Anchorage Review for Neuse River - Broad Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Nov 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter Broad Creek from the north by turning in after passing Red 4 on the Neuse River or from the south by doing the same thing just past Red 6. The entrance to the creek is well marked but with several twists and turns to get you up beyond Broad Creek Red 4. Give Green 3 some distance as shoaling has been reported close in to the mark. Beyond official Red 4 there are a series of private red and green marks defining the channel. There is no less than 9 feet of water in the creek from the entrance up to and beyond the anchorage icon with just enough room off the south side channel to anchor in 9 foot water with swing room. We anchored just upstream of the anchor icon with very good holding. Protection from wind and waves was good and boaters gave our anchored boat enough room so that wakes were no problem. There is no current in the creek, which is typical for inner banks anchorages. The only thing that surprised us was that cell service was poor. This was not expected because the anchorage is adjacent to River Dunes and their first class marina. Verizon and T-Mobile were almost on life-support.

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Anchorage Review for Persimmon Tree Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Nov 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

For those with no need to go to shore, Pungo Creek offers an excellent alternative to anchoring in Belhaven Harbor. It will add about one mile to your overall travel distance but offers space, good holding, and quiet as well as an easy off/easy on to the ICW. Coming from the south you can turn off the channel north of Green 7 and aim for Red 2PC at the entrance to Pungo Creek. Coming from the north you can exit at the entry markers for the side channel to Belhaven and aim for the same red entry mark to the creek. Coming in either direction you will find no less than 11 feet of water to the creek entrance and then no less than 10 feet to the anchor icon. We anchored next to the icon in 11 feet of water with winds forecasted to be from the northeast at 10 to 15 knots with a moderate chop. This stretched the anchorage's wind and wave protection to the compass limit but we decided to give it a try. The actual weather was more like 10 mph and settling.

Northeast winds are the limit for this anchorage but, as you back around through north and on to west the wind and wave protection in this anchorage is excellent. I can easily see staying here during extended winds of 30+ knots with adequate tranquility. The anchor bit and held on the drop and wind, wave, and wake issues were less that we expected and there was no current. As dinner approached the wind shifted to the north, and we spend a quiet, restful night at anchor with no issues. The anchor came up with a good clump of mud on it, having spent the entire night in one place. Cellular service was good and our cellular internet speeds were also good. If you really wanted to you could take your dinghy the one and a half miles into town with no problem. If you are just passing through, Persimmon Point is a good alternative to downtown Belhaven and a strategic stop getting from Oriental into the Chesapeake Bay.

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Anchorage Review for Alligator River - Tuckahoe Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the dredged channel halfway between Green 49 and Red 52 with 9 feet of water at the entrance with depths of between 9 and 12 feet as you move back into the Alligator River away from the entrance to the Alligator-Pungo Canal. Anchor in mud with good holding and good wind and wave protection from all directions but the east. There is no current to speak of in the anchorage and boats will swing with the wind. Shore access is possible at a boat ramp that is off the LDB of the river about 2 miles up from the anchorage. Cell service is best described as "weak". There were nine large boats in the anchorage and there was plenty of space for more. Good water goes back further up the river than is immediately apparent. Faster boats showed respect as they passed by slowing down to minimize wake issues. This is probably the best halfway anchorage between Bellhaven and Coinjock and those of us in slow boats appreciate it.

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Anchorage Review for North River - Buck Island (South)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

With winds forecasted to be 20 knots from the northeast overnight we opted to anchor on the south side of Buck Island for a bit of protection from the chop that the wind was going to kick up. We turned off the channel south of Green 157 beyond the island's shallow tail and headed back up towards the anchorage icon. We decided to move about a half mile to the east along the bank in order to have better protection from the forecasted winds before dropping anchor for the night in 9 feet of water. We had to back down on the anchor three times before it held properly but, once set, we did not move during the night. The anchorage is actually a small part of a plateau at 9 to 10 feet depth that is on both sides of the North River channel in the area so you have many choices as to exactly where to drop the hook. Even with the wind we spent a quiet night but, shortly after sunrise the parade of boats going south from Coinjock started and there is little protection from their wakes as the motor by at speed. Some of the larger boats throw uncomfortable wakes at you no matter where you anchor.

As North River is part of the bays behind the outer banks there is no lunar tide but depths do change with wind directions. Winds from the north will empty water out of Albemarle into Pamlico Sound. Winds from the south will do the opposite. We had surprisingly good cellular reception. Shore access is not an easy thing in the marshes. We would not recommend trying it in this area. Even this late in the year there were crab pots on the flats so a watchful eye is necessary. The night time temperatures were cool enough that we were not bothered by the infamous "fuzzy bill" midges that sometimes swarm in warmer weather.

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Free Dock Review for Great Bridge Dock #1 (Chesapeake, VA)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Since the last time we stayed on this dock the town has invested a considerable amount of money and labor in the park. The lawn has been cleaned up and a paved walking path with night lighting has been installed. The dock remains the same and we used our fender boards to keep the boat off the dock posts in 11 feet of water. Fortunately, there is no tide and no current to speak of so the tie up was easy. An excellent Kroger supermarket, pharmacy, ABC store, and about a half dozen restaurants are within a half mile of the dock. The park it open to the public 24 hours a day but, in the several times that we have used the facility, we have never had nor heard of any security issues. Cellular service is what you would expect for an urban area: very good with over 100 mbps download speeds on our phones. We watched in fascination as a man using five lines with chicken drumsticks as bait brought in several dozen blue crabs during the evening fishing from the end of the wall.

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Anchorage Review for Lafayette River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

If coming from the north, turn off the channel at Green 19, just south of the Container Facility and proceed down the well-marked channel in no less than 11 feet MLW. If you are coming down the Elizabeth River just after the coal docks turn off the channel at Green 21 and you will be aligned with the entry channel. At Red 10 turn to the east and move off into the pocket where the icon is located and anchor in about 9 feet MLW with good holding in mud and oyster shells. Account for the 3 foot tide when calculating how much rode to let out and be careful to stay centered in the pocket so as to have sufficient depth when you swing. Protection from wind, waves, and current is very good but there is a casual local attitude about minding your wake as you pass anchored boats. Shore access, if allowed, would be through the Norfolk Yacht Club which is next to the anchorage. We did not ask as we had no need to go ashore. The ambiance of the anchorage is best described as "mixed." You have the yacht club and lovely houses along the bank of the river and right next to this is the Norfolk Container and Coal Ports, working night. Right down the road is the US Naval Facility at Norfolk, with ships coming in and out on a regular basis. There is no shopping in the area; the closest grocery store is two miles away. There are some restaurants in the area, but they are oriented to vehicle traffic, not boaters. Cell reception is very good. We waited out some bad weather for a day and had a relaxing experience overall even though we found ourselves in the middle of a dinghy regatta in the afternoon. This is definitely a secure anchorage and we plan to use it again when transiting the area.

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Anchorage Review for Cherry Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

If the weather is fair, traveling is a priority, and the desire is for less crowded spaces, then the Piankatank River is a good bet. You can either go all the way to Fishing Bay and be well protected from most bad weather or you can anchor a full 2 miles earlier at Cherry Point where, in fair weather, you have a good alternative. Instead of continuing on into the river, take a turn to port at Green 7 and head towards shore, minding the shallows to your port side. As you approach the shore there is a plateau at about 18 feet MLW with excellent holding. Don't get too close to shore because depths look to abruptly rises to less than three feet MLW. We elected to anchor in 19 feet of water and let out sufficient chain to satisfy scope requirements. There is room for ten or more boats, even with scope/swing requirements. We did not drag at all. This is open anchorage but, if you are facing moderate winds from the southeast through the southwest, it should provide adequate protection against wind and waves. There is a tidal current that runs through the anchorage but, at its peak, it did not appear to be anything to be concerned about. Shopping and restaurant reservations will have to wait for another day. Cell phone reception is very good. You are about a mile off the channel so the few boats that came by at speed threw wakes from a distance. We were here at the end of October so it was quiet night.

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Anchorage Review for Mill Creek 2 - Solomons

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn into Mill Creek at Red 2 and proceed up the channel one half mile and anchor in 12 feet MLW in one of two "pockets" opposite Red 4. Unfortunately, the pockets were occupied so we took a turn to starboard and went further up Mill Creek to Green 7 and anchored at the mouth of Spring Cove on the opposite side of the channel in 13 foot MLW with excellent holding in light mud. Protection from wind, wake, and current is good and the neighborhood is quiet. The difference between Mill Creek and downtown Solomon's Island, only a mile away is remarkable. If you want to go into town you can take a protected 1 mile dinghy ride and tie up (with permission) to the dock at one of the marinas for shopping or dinner. Grocery shopping would be more complicated as the closest supermarket is about two miles up the road. Cellular service is very good.

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Anchorage Review for Lake Ogleton

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Lake Ogleton is about three miles east of Downtown Annapolis and about a hundred miles away from the hustle and bustle. If you are focused on visiting Annapolis, you will need a good dinghy with a good motor to make it work. If you are just passing through or in need of a place to hide from weather, this is probably one of the better anchorages in the Chesapeake. Enter the lake in a well-marked but narrow channel with 9 foot MLW approach, basin, and anchorage icon depth. After passing Green 5 turn to port and travel east to the anchorage icon where there is good holding in mud. Shallow depths mean that not much rode needs to be let out so you can probably fit three boats at anchor without interfering with the locals while leaving a clear path for traffic. We spent a very quiet and restful night here. Cellular reception was very good and we had excellent speeds on our T-Mobile gateway.

Speaking of the locals, they constitute some of the very wealthy of Annapolis. The shores of the lake are either occupied by very nice houses and smaller marinas with boats on docks and on moorings in front of almost every house. We did not try to go ashore. You do need to be self-contained in this anchorage. One thing that surprised us was the number of local boats that simply ignored no wake courtesy. We were passed by everything from dinghies to 40' trawlers throwing wakes. Fortunately there was not that much boat traffic and it died down with the setting of the sun. We spent nice quiet night here and left in the morning. We would definitely use this anchorage again but, if we wanted to go ashore in Annapolis, we would make a reservation downtown at one of the many excellent in-town marinas.

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Marina Review for Chestertown Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

It is about a 25 mile trip up the Chester River from Kent Narrows to Chesterton and their Municipal Marina. From Chesterton the only option you will have is to turn around and go back down the river to go anywhere else. Some may look at this as a dead-end while others (us included) look at it as a wonderful side trip. Choose your time and come up with the tide and the trip goes by quickly. The marina is two thirds floating docks so you most probably will not have to deal with the 3 foot tide. The last dock, with several spots for larger vessels, is fixed and you will have to deal with setting lines and fenders properly. We ended up on the fixed dock and, to be honest, with the help of the two marina hands, getting in and settled was no big deal. The marina staff was very responsive on the telephone, on the radio, and in person. There is 20 feet MLW depth at the dock and power (30/50 amps) and water are readily available from modern pylons. There is good, controlled and handicap access clean showers on shore and a proper laundry room where we got caught up on our washing. The docks were in very good condition and, although there was no physical security, it did not feel like it would be necessary. Cell phone reception was very good on Verizon and T-Mobile and marina internet speeds were 30/5 mb. Acme and Redner's supermarkets, a good liquor store and a Walgreens are about 2 miles away. It would be nice if there was courtesy car but there isn't. Finally, one of the marina dockhands came out to help us untie when we left.

The town of Chesterton, especially in the port area, retains much of its charm even though some things are being modernized and brought into the 21st Century. The roots of village go back to pre-revolutionary times (1706) and the eight block historic district (of which the marina is a part) has something for everyone. Chesterton is also the home of Washington College (1782) and, if you manage to get away from the historic district, it is worth a visit. If you are here on a Saturday you must make every effort to get to the local farmers' market. It is really excellent and is also something of a local event. There are many dining choices in the historic district but the one that stands out for us is "Modern Stone Age Kitchen." Open for breakfast and lunch (Pizza night on Friday night) the restaurant is different, original, and delicious. We came back this year for Saturday morning breakfast and farmers' market. It was worth it.

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Anchorage Review for Corsica River - Rocky Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

With bad weather forecasted and in need of a break we decided to move three and a half miles off the Chester River to a protected anchorage up near end of the Corsica River, near Centerville, for a two day rest. With the only navigational issue being the 9 feet MLW passing Red 2 at the mouth of the river, we continued up the river to the Rocky Point anchorage icon where we found 8 feet MLW and good holding. Our anchor set immediately and held through two days of winds to 20 mph from the west, the most exposed direction in the anchorage. When we brought the anchor up it was well covered with a layer of thick mud. Wavelets of no more than 6-8 inches with little breaking tops came by us but did not disturb us at all. There was virtually no current running in either direction so we moved around with the wind with no worries about swing room at all. The anchorage appears to be flat, with a minimum observed depth of 8 feet MLW and there is room for ten or more boats to comfortably anchor. Although we were here at the end of the season, the place is lovely and quiet. Centerville is reachable by dinghy three quarters of a mile further up the river with several restaurants choices available and an Acme supermarket and a pharmacy about a mile and quarter from the dock as well. Cellular reception is very good and, using our T-Mobile Gateway, we had sufficient internet speeds to watch a movie. There are at least two other anchorages in the Corsica River that are good and are closer to the Chester River but, in the future, when we are in the area and in need of a day off, we will definitely come back here.

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Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Turner Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Both Garmin and Aqua Maps are incorrect in their buoyage on the entrance to this anchorage. There are two private green markers in the entrance channel and, no matter how wrong it may seem, they must be taken on your port side when entering. Pay no attention to the published depths and channel location on your plotter. Trust the buoys and pass close by to port slowly and you should have no less than 9 feet MLW while you seem to be almost on the bank. The first green is especially alarming as you head towards the bank just off the bank on your starboard side. Once past the second green you are heading towards the state park dock/boat launch you can go back to paying attention to your plotter as the channel is now marked correctly. Anchor in 7 feet MLW in the deep water in a line that can extend back at least several hundred yards with enough room for four or five boats. Holding is very good, protection is excellent, and shore access is easy but there is no shopping in the area. Cellular service is very poor and we spent most of our time with little connectivity. We waited out gale force winds for two days in comfort. The anchor did not budge; we had to use the engine to break it from the bottom. For more information on this wonderful anchorage you can refer to my review of May, 2023.

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Free Dock Review for Town of Chesapeake City Municipal Docks - MD

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Having settled in for a lovely evening at anchor at Chesapeake City we suddenly noticed a larger boat leaving the free dock and we decided to make the move. The anchor came up and, within ten minutes we were tied to the free floating dock in 11' MLW water with a 30/50 amp power pylon within easy reach ($15 extra, $10 for water, payable by envelope at the town office.) We cannot say enough about the quality of this free dock. It is excellent. There is room for two 40+ foot boats on the face dock and there are three smaller slips on the back end of the dock that are not visible until you venture in to the fairway between the dock and one of the restaurants. Free stay is limited to 24 hours. The floating dock is open to the public but access requires some skill so the strolling crowd is mostly left in parking lot off the dock. You are "downtown" and it gets crowded and busy on weekends, but it calms down reasonably early. There are five or six restaurants within a half mile of the dock but the nearest grocery store is about five miles away. Cell service is very good. Chesapeake City is a great stop and the town has done an excellent job of providing an accessible convenience for the traveling boater. We will definitely stop here the next time through but we will try to avoid Saturdays and Sundays.

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Anchorage Review for Chesapeake City

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

When we were here last year we spent a considerable amount of time feeling sorry for boaters who missed the narrow deep water channel and ended up waiting for the tide to rise so that they could continue. We, on leaving, touched bottom coming off the docks before we made it to deep water. The good news is that the anchorage has been dredged and there is no less than 9' MLW at the entrance and 11' MLW in the anchorage. We anchored in 11' of water with good holding and swing room while remarking that the anchorage was well protected in all directions from wind, waves, current, and wakes. An ideal anchorage, although we have noted in the past that it can get pretty crowded. Mind your scope and swing but realize also that there is no current and that most boats will swing together gently on shorter scope. There should be room to land your dinghy at the inside end of the free dock where there are three city slips meant for smaller boats. There is plenty to do on shore but there is no grocery store within easy walking distance. There is a 72 hour maximum stay for boats at anchor. Cell reception is excellent.

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Anchorage Review for Bennett Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Cape May is a nexus for everyone going north or south through New Jersey. In season it is not unusual to have ten to twenty transient boats in marinas and at anchor in the harbor. The anchorage of choice is in front of the Coast Guard Training Facility and, during the season, there can be as many as twelve to fifteen boats anchored there. With the change of tides and all the boats swinging in their own fashion, change of tide can be a real tense situation. We decided a year ago to look for a more tranquil alternative and discovered Bennett Creek, less than two miles up the New Jersey Intracostal, above Two Mile Bridge. It may take a bit of extra time to get there, but once anchored, it is bliss in comparison. Turn to the west into Bennet Creek between Green 473 and Green 471 with no less than 12' MLW at the entrance and then 20' MLW in the channel, rising to about 12' at the icon which is just before the remains of an old fishing vessel that partially blocks the top of the channel. We anchored in 14' MLW, just south of the anchorage icon with good holding while facing a 1 mph incoming current that kept us straight with the creek, even with the west wind. Holding is excellent and there are no waves or wakes but, as the anchorage is in the marshes, there is no protection from the wind. We settled in for a two day stay, waiting out 20 mph+ winds coming down Delaware Bay. The tide keeps you oriented with the channel. Bennett Creek is in the middle of a bird nesting ground and is on the Atlantic flyway so, if you are birdwatcher, break out your binoculars. Cell service was very good. We did not try to get to shore. On leaving the anchor chain came up clean, the anchor came up with a lovely hunk of mud on the flukes, but we also had a ghost crab pot that required untangling, cutting off, and dropping into deep water so that it could not bother anyone else. Make sure you have a good rope knife.

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Anchorage Review for Atlantic City

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Absecon inlet is wide and lets a lot of the Atlantic into protected waters. The anchorage is located on a protected side of the channel, just south of the Brigantine Bridge and does not provide all the characteristics you would want for a secluded, restful anchorage. Add to this the fact that you are confronted by the illumination from four major casinos and you might think that this is a spot to be avoided. There are better anchorages in the area, Rum Point Basin is our preferred option, but low tide and low light made this the anchorage of choice for us for the second time. We were heading south on a weather dominated schedule.

We rounded Green 15 and turned into the side channel in front of the Golden Nugget Casino, dropped our anchor in 15 feet MLW, backed down on an anchor which set immediately and held, and spent a good night, illuminated by the casinos and rocking to the last of the Atlantic that crept in along with the wakes of the occasional passing boat and the changing tidal flow. Remember that tides in Atlantic City are sometimes over five feet. Allow for sufficient scope on your anchor. We did not try to get to shore. Cell service was excellent. We left in the morning with no problems, well rested, heading out at dawn to go south. In a future similar situation, we would definitely do it again.

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Marina Review for Captain Bill's Landing

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

We have yet to meet anyone who is enthusiastic about the options at Manasquan Inlet. It is a tight space with lots of current, lots of commercial trawlers and head boats, fixed docks, a tide that reaches five feet with lots passing wakes, and a total disregard for transient boaters. With this as the background, after five visits, we love Captain Bill's. First of all, Bill is about as professional as you could imagine. His people also reflect this; they have been wonderful every time we have stopped. His prices for docking and fuel are reasonable, his slips are well constructed, and he is the first stop in the inlet for those who are just in for an overnight. This time we were at the end of the season and the summer celebrations were a thing of the past. The fishing boats were also leaving at 7 instead of 6am so we managed to get an extra hour of sleep. We had a slip in front of Red's Lobsters that was out of the primary current flow so docking was easy, despite the outgoing tide. There was no water or electricity and we had to deploy fender boards and watch our lines even though we only had a three foot tide. It was not uncomfortable which, given the location, is all that you should expect. It would be nice, however, if the staff could find the water to rinse of the seagull poop from the docks. If this review sounds negative, it is not. We will be back on our next trip along the New Jersey shore. Captain Bill's is a good stop.

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Marina Review for Richmond County Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Mooring in Great Kills Harbor is handled by the Richmond County Yacht Club which is listed as "PRIVATE" but is the most congenial host you can imagine. Call them on Channel 09 while in the channel into the harbor. They will acknowledge you, assign you a mooring ball and will be there to guide you to you spot when you enter the harbor. The $55 mooring fee gets you comfort and security for the night but also the use of the very nice tender service and all club facilities including bar and restaurant. The welcome that we received from the club and its members could not have been nicer. The only thing the club lacks is a laundry facility but there is a laundromat about a ten minute walk up Hylan Boulevard. This being New York City, virtually all your shopping needs can be fulfilled with a couple of blocks from the club gate. We counted at least six interesting restaurants along the main road within a ten minute walk. There is an local grocery store called Top Tomato a mile away and a Stop and Shop a half mile further on for full resupply. A 24 hour bagel store is about a mile from the marina. There is a state park on the outside edge of the marina that you can walk or dinghy to with a nice sand beach.

The harbor is quiet and almost everyone is considerate of their wakes. Wind protection is not the best as the surrounding harbor is low lying for winds with a southerly component. There is not enough fetch in the harbor to create any wave action but it can be windy. Cellular speeds are what you would expect from a big city: very fast. We could not ask for more. We love this stop. We will be back.

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Anchorage Review for Croton Point N

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Leave the channel just south of Red 22 (southbound) or Red 18 (northbound) and travel across a mud bank with no less than 10' MLW towards the anchorage icon. Honor the point that sticks out just before the anchorage and find no less than 9' MLW at the anchorage icon with good holding in mud. Our chain and anchor needed a good spray as we hauled it up in the morning. There are still wakes from passing heavy traffic but the anchorage is protected from the NE around to the SW winds and waves. It is also far enough off the channel that the tidal changes are minimized. We barely swung with the tides. Cell reception is good.

The anchorage icon is just outside the beach exclusion area so do not anchor inside the icon. Watercraft are not allowed on the swimming area or within 750 feet of the beach. As a point of reference, the anchorage icon is about 900 feet off the beach so you are legal as long as you even with or outside that mark. Cellphone reception was very good. We were here mid-week at the beginning of October and this was an excellent choice for us. Mid-summer on a lovely weekend would probably be a cause for further consideration. The nice thing is that the mudflat is large and the boat concentration seems to be close to the beach. A half mile move might be worth considering under those circumstances. Protection might be less but the characteristics and depths of this very large mud flat remain similar.

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Anchorage Review for East of Island at Esopus

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

East of Island at Esopus Anchorage Scouting Report. At approximately 84.5 LDB there is a bank that looks like it would make an excellent anchorage for an overnight stay in all but the worst weather. Protected by the island from the main channel, wakes should not be a significant problem. With the exception of N/S winds the anchorage should be protected from waves. Current will be tidal and may reach 1.5-2mph so be sure to have your anchor well set. It is important to note that the shore bank shoals rapidly from depths of 30 feet to places where herons are standing in less than two feet of water. There is a 3+ foot tidal range so take care exactly where you drop your anchor and make sure you have the scope laid to counter the ebb tidal flow of about 1.5mph. The bottom is reported to be mud. In all but the heaviest of breezes your boat will be oriented N/S with the changing tidal flow. Dinghy upstream to Mills Norrie State Park Marina if you really need to get to shore. The bank should easily accommodate 5+ boats in a N/S line as long as everyone has agreed to the anchoring depth and the anchor scope. We will definitely keep this on our list of possible anchor.

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Marina Review for Mills Norrie State Park Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Mills Norrie State Par Marina Scouting Report. At mile marker 84.7 LDB you will find Mills Norrie State Park Marina which, on inspection looks like a nice find for those traveling the Hudson who like to stay in Marinas on a budget. Located above Peekskill Yacht Club and Hyde Park Marinas Mills Norrie is not as close to the Culinary Institute of America or Hyde Park but, at $1.25 per foot and a $5 charge for 30 amp electricity, it is a much more reasonable expense. On passing the marina looked to be in excellent shape and the person who immediately responded to our phone call was polite and seemed knowledgeable. The marina accommodates larger vessels with drafts over five feet on the outer docks. The person offered that it was "a little bumpy at times" but, on inspection, it looks like the marina is well protected by an island and distance from the channel. With the exception of the N/S axis, wind protection looks good. Cell reception was good as we passed.

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Anchorage Review for Vanderburgh Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Vanderburgh Cove North Scouting Report. Head towards LDB between Red 66 and 68 at mile marker 88.1 and enter the side channel on the east side of the river. Heading back up the channel, select the appropriate depth to drop anchor taking the 4 foot tide and 2mph reversing current present at this anchorage. Even though reported holding is very good in mud, sufficient scope should be a major consideration. Protection from winds with any easterly component all the way around to the south should be very good with complimentary wave protection. The anchorage is well off the channel and has shallows in front of it so the wake protection should also be pretty good. Cell phone reception at the anchorage is very good.

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Anchorage Review for Port Ewen

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Port Ewan Scouting Report. Head in towards RDB south of the marked submerged dolphins between Green 71 and 73 near mile marker 90.7 to your preferred depth and anchor in mud with reported good holding. Remember that there is a 4 foot tide in the area and account for Mean Low Water when selecting both your anchoring depth and anchor rode scope. Remember that there is a reversing tide on the river with currents up to 2 mph as well. There is no real protection against wakes and only good protection from waves with winds coming from the southwest around to the north. Strong winds with any east components will have enough fetch to build uncomfortable waves. Shore access is up the Rondout Creek in Kingston, about a mile and a half away. There is no public dinghy dock but there is a municipal marina under the Rt. 9 bridge. Cell phone reception is good. The anchorage is definitely a good fair weather overnight but pay attention to the weather.

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Marina Review for Hudson River Maritime Museum

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Turn into the Rondout Creek just north of Green 73 and continue upstream about one mile to the Hudson River Maritime Museum floating dock located in front of the museum. The dock is raised about 2 feet off the water and is in good shape, with solid cleats, potable water spigots and 30 and 50 amp electric service from power pylons in very good shape. Approach depth is greater than 15' MLW and the dock depth measured 15 feet MLW. The dock is separated from walking traffic in front of the museum by a gangway to the pier but without gate. During our stay there was no issue with unwanted foot traffic on the dock. Buoys and Gulls restrooms/showers are just off the dock and are coded for entry. They are clean, in good shape, and are outfitted for handicap access. Dock Wi-Fi measured 24/4 with a half full dock.

We could write a separate article about the Hudson River Maritime Museum and another article on the Wooden Boat School which is on the property. Both locations are worth spending a day learning about the history of the Kingston, the river and four centuries of boats that worked it. We had planned to spend an hour at the museum but it easily turned into three.

Downtown historic Kingston is right next to the HRMM Docks, with several very good restaurants, stores, and shops. Kingston was the terminus of the old Delaware and Hudson canal that used to supply New York City with coal, building bricks, stone, cement, and ice during the 1800's. We love this stop.

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Anchorage Review for Coxsackie Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn to the west into the side channel at Green 159 and continue on past the Coxsackie Free Docks and Riverside Park and proceed up the center of the channel with no less than 10 feet MLW depth about 0.4 miles to the anchorage icon. Anchor at the icon in 11 feet of water MLW with excellent holding in sandy mud just short of the Coxsackie Yacht Club. Our anchor set immediately, did not move with the changing tidal currents, and came up with some vegetation that had to be removed but no mud on the chain or the anchor. The reversing tidal currents are estimated to be about 1 mile per hour a peak and the boat stayed in line with current with no problem. The anchorage is far enough up behind the island that wakes from river traffic should not be a problem. Waves and wakes were not a problem and protection from the wind was excellent with the exception of the north/southeast directions. We spent a calm and quiet night with only some faint noises from trains going up and down the other side of the river. Shore access is good at the town free dock located 0.4 miles downriver. Cellular service was very good. This is definitely a good anchorage for overnight as well as for longer stays.

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Free Dock Review for Coxsackie Riverside Park Town Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

First, a pronunciation lesson: It's pronounced "cook SAH key". There are two separate floating aluminum docks in great shape with over 200 feet of dock space available. Depth at the dock is 12 feet MWL. The docks are a part of a renovated riverfront park that includes a playground, boat launch facilities grills and picnic tables. The park is bordered by a new hotel with restaurant, several shops coffee shops and dining places. The several of the dining facilities were closed, this being a Monday. There is a very good specialty grocery store on the main street named Coxsackie General Store with a good selection of basics, beer, and specialty items. They also create and serve deli sandwiches. Reed Street Bottle Shop is right across the street and caters to your wine and alcohol needs. Cellular service is very good. There is supposed to be free municipal Wi-Fi but we could not get it to work for us.

If approaching from the north be certain to leave plenty of space off the bottom of Coxsackie Island before turning in towards the docks. We turned in just before Green 159. Both docks are floating aluminum and are a bit squeaky when disturbed as by the wake of a passing boat. Two cruisers were on the docks when a fully laden tow and fuel barge came by and created a wake that, when it hit shallower water, built up to over two feet in height, enough to dislodge several fenders and create a possibly dangerous situation. Fortunately nobody was hurt but one of the boats (us) decided to leave the dock for the night to avoid any further problems. The report on our night at Coxsackie Island is also filed.

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Marina Review for Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 30, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

There are over 30 reviews of Shady Harbor Marina and almost all of them rate the facility as either 4 or 5 stars. It truly is an excellent boater friendly stop on the upper Hudson that caters to the cruising crowd. This time through we needed to get a couple of batteries replaced so we called ahead and the batteries were waiting for us. The install took no time at all and we were on our way south without a hiccup. The marina remains top-notch in all respects and the management and staff are wonderful. The only negative change since our last visit is the demise of the two courtesy cars that provided transportation to good shopping. Hopefully they will find a suitable vehicle for next year!

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Marina Review for Troy Downtown Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 29, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Troy Downtown Marina is at mile 150.0 on the Hudson River and is 2 miles short of the first lock on the Erie and Champlain Canals, Lock E-1, also known as the Federal Lock. It is also just 6 miles short of Waterford and, if space is not available there, serves as an acceptable alternative overnight stay before entering the Erie or Champlain Canals. The marina consists of a floating dock (there is a five foot tide here) tied to the concrete river bulkhead. 30 and 50 amp power is available as is fresh water. There is fuel and a pump out on the dock and three clean key coded bathrooms in the parking lot next to the marina office. Troy Downtown Marina is no operated by Oasis Marinas and booking is done through Snag-a-Slip. There is a very popular barbeque restaurant 100 yards downstream from marina and a good hardware nearby. Price Chopper supermarket is about a half mile from the marina across the 19th St. Bridge.

We have stopped in Troy twice, making sure that we are there on Saturday when a very large (200 stalls) farmers market takes place about a mile downstream and a couple of blocks inland takes place. It is one of the best markets that we have ever seen and we are looking forward to properly scheduling our next visit to be on a Saturday.

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Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 29, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Waterford is one of the significant stops on the Loop. For the past 200 years it has been the eastern terminus of Clinton's Folly, otherwise known as the Erie Canal. It is difficult to overstate the effect that this canal had not only on the local area but on the expanding nation. Goods from as far away as Chicago and Duluth made their way to Buffalo and through the canal to New York City and the world beyond. Spending an extra day here can be profitable, just walking around town or taking a hike up several preserved miles of the old Champlain Canal that run through the center of town, crossing the Erie Canal just above Lock E-2.

There is room for about 10 40' boats on the two floating docks attached to the old tie up wall at Waterford. The dock is free with a 48 hours stay and is first come first served. You can call the Visitor's Center to check on dock space at (518) 233-9123 or you can view real time webcam views of the east and west docks to see if there is space (https://www.town.waterford.ny.us/harbor-visitors-center.html). There may also be space to the east of the Visitor's Center to tie up directly to the old wall with no services. Electric will cost you $10 per night, cash or check at the Visitor's Center. A key to the bathrooms/showers (one each for men and women) will set you back another $5 for 24 hour access. There is now fresh water on the west docks. We did not check the east dock to see if the work was completed there. The docks are in acceptable shape but are still showing some wear. There is no laundry and the pump out service has been discontinued. Cell service is good. There is a Hannaford's supermarket and a Walgreen's pharmacy as well as a liquor store on the other side of the river about a half mile from the harbor. There are also a couple of restaurants in town, two to three blocks away from the harbor. Finally, there is a small but very nice farmers market on Sunday morning. It is worth a visit!

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Marina Review for Ilion Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Located in downtown Ilion, the marina is a converted barge loading divot in the canal that, in the old days probably served as a loading platform for product from the Remington Arms Factory (founded in 1810) that, until recently, was the major employer in the town. The wall is in good shape and cleats have been strategically added to the bollards designed to hold barges against the wall. Power and water are available by well-placed power pylons. There is fuel, pump out, and showers and marina Wi-Fi available as well. There is no laundry. The marina is also a vacation travel trailer park and a stop on the Erie Canal Bike Trail so there is more activity than one might expect from such a small marina. There is also a seasonal snack bar on site and several restaurants within easy walking distance from the marina. Aldi's Supermarket is located one block from the marina and Walgreens Pharmacy is about a half mile up the road. The marina is first come, first served and the staff is very helpful. We have stayed there three times and will come back again next we are on the Canal.

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Free Dock Review for Amsterdam West of Lock E11 North Wall

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is the third time that we have stopped here at the west end of Lock 11 and the second time that we have gone out to dinner at Russo's Italian Restaurant, located 300 yards from the free wall at the lock across the railroad tracks. There are three power pedestals located at the west end of the wall, each with one 30 amp and one 50 amp outlet. A great Italian dinner and free power in one stop is a wonderful combination. There are no other services available. The only downside to the location is that the trains come through with their horns blaring 100 yards away through the night.

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Free Dock Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

The Sylvan Beach Free Wall extends on both sides of the canal with ample space for 20 boats. The north wall is on both sides of the road bridge that goes over the canal so, if you are close to the bridge, there can be considerable road noise. There are two restaurants on the west (Lake) end of the wall that have eat-in and takeout service. There are many others within a ten minute walk. There is also a small amusement park in the immediate area as well. The wall on the south side of the canal extends from the bridge out towards the lake and is in a more residential area and does not have immediate access to restaurants and other amusements. There is room for 10 or more cruising vessels to tie up here. There are no services and the wall is open to the public but we experienced no difficulties. Cell service was good and there is a Dollar General store for light supplies about a half mile north of the dock on Main St. We imagine that the place is hopping Fridays and Saturdays during the season.

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Marina Review for Ess-Kay Yards Inc.

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

The stories about Kim and Ethan are true. They are wonderful people, honest, hardworking, and caring. Because of medical issues, what started out to be just a week off loop for some bottom work became winter storage, bottom paint, new bimini canvas, and some mechanical work over a period of 15 months. Their Travel Lift managed our 30 ton trawler with ease. Everything was handled professionally and all work was to our satisfaction. Although this is definitely a working boatyard there is still a relaxed ambiance to the place. The docks are in good shape, the grass infield is well maintained, and the office/chandlery is well stocked. Necessary items can be ordered and usually delivered the following day. Private bath/showers are clean. There is no laundry. Although the facility is on the canal it is in a 5 mph No Wake Zone that is honored by most people so there is little issue with wakes. The docks are fixed and solid. Finally, the diesel price is one of the best in the Northeast.

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Anchorage Review for Abeel Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Abeel Island anchorage offers a peaceful stop away from the noise of highways and trains. Leave the channel west of Green 385 and anchor in 15 feet of water off the bottom end of Abeel Island. Be advised that the shoaling from the bottom of the island extends further out than the charts indicate and the depths are also less than indicated. Anchor in 15 – 17 feet of water with good holding in mud with only a slight current heading downstream. Our anchor came up with clean chain and a good hunk of mud on the anchor flukes. While the anchorage is somewhat open to wind from the east there is good wind protection and excellent wave protection from all other directions. Shore access can be had from Lock 15's wall about one half mile downstream from the anchorage. Although you will be just off the channel there is little or no traffic after the locks close down at 6 in the evening. Cell service is adequate.

The big advantage of this anchorage is that it is not located next to a railroad crossing so the trains that come by at night are not sounding their horns 100 yards from where you are tied up. Road and rail noises are quite low, a blessing for light sleepers. We would definitely stop here again.

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Free Dock Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 3, 2024
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

Peoria City Dock is listed as a marina and there is even a dockmaster who answers the phone and gives you information but does not take reservations. It is also a free dock as there is no charge for the use of the municipal facilities and is first come, first served. Listing it as a marina is appropriate because there is much more here than you would expect for a free dock even though the marina is lacking in many amenities.

Peoria City Dock sits in the middle of downtown Peoria. The dock is floating and in good shape with a one hundred foot long side tie for larger vessels, six thirty foot finger piers and over twenty piers to accommodate twenty foot boats. You cannot tie up on the outer edge of the dock so space for larger vessels is very limited. A forty foot boat can (and did) fit crosswise in the well between two thirty foot fingers but maneuvering in the fairway designed for smaller boats is really tight. Power is available. There are a few pylons with 30 amp service but the majority of the outlets in the marina are household 15 amp. There is no water or bathrooms. Although the marina is just off the channel and in Peoria Lake the marina was quite calm. With strong winds from the north or south it might be different.

There is no security at the marina. You descend ten feet to the dock so you are separated from the public but people are just above you. When we were there (Friday Night) discussions continued into the evening and were sometimes loud. There is music Friday and Saturday Nights and a good farmers market on Saturday morning right above the dock. Several good restaurants, the Museum of the River and the Caterpillar Visitors Center are nearby.

If you want to get off the boat in town this is the place to be if you can get an appropriate space. The problem is that the city dock is five miles further that the closest marina that accommodates through boats (IVY) and there is no other marinas downriver. If you gamble on the City Dock and lose your option is to anchor in 10 feet of water on the other side of the river just south of the Murry Baker (I-74) Bridge with pretty good protection and access to town by using your dinghy and landing at the City Dock.

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Free Dock Review for Amsterdam West of Lock E11 North Wall

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 16, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

After leaving Lock E-11 Westbound follow the wall until it makes a slight turn to the north. There is about 500 feet of worn cement bulkhead with bollards and rings. Depth at the bulkhead is over 10 feet. Make sure you have sufficient fenders deployed. At the west end of the wall there are three working power pylons with a 50 and a 30 amp outlet in each one. The bulkhead is exposed to river traffic but, with the lock there, we did not experience any wakes. There is no water available. Cellular service is good for the three major carriers. There is a small park area with picnic tables, trash barrels, and a porta-john before you get to the active railroad tracks. Care should be taken concerning where to place your feet as there are a significant goose population in the area. Russo's Family Italian Restaurant is the other side of the tracks from the lock and serves honest Italian food at a reasonable price. The restaurant is definitely worth the walk.

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Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 12, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

48 hour floating free dock with a $10 dollar per day charge for electricity and water. Water was not working while we were there. Docks are getting a bit old but the electric is still in good shape. The Visitors Center is wonderful and there are bathrooms available for an additional $5. The Sunday Farmers Market is in front of the docks and, although it is small, is definitely worth the time. Hannaford Grocery and Walgreens Pharmacy are a half mile away. Everything that needs to be said about the stop has been put in other reviews. This is a great place to meet and get to know the group that you will be moving through the Erie Canal with.

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Free Dock Review for Troy Free Day Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 12, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

This is a 200 foot long floating dock in good condition on LDB just south of the Federal Street Bridge and just before the Troy Downtown Marina. Dock is aluminum and in excellent condition with a depth of about 20' MLW and a six foot tide. There is supposed to be pay-meter at the top of the gangway but it not in place. According to the marina dockmaster, until it is installed there is no charge for day use. There are no facilities on the dock but it is located right next the the Saturday Farmers Market, a large ACE hardware store, a CVS pharmacy, and several good restaurants. It is also 1 hour south of Waterford and the start of the Erie Canal. A good place to stop for an hour or two and get some shopping done.

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Anchorage Review for Pollepel Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 11, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter the anchorage from the south at an old water intake building one mile below the anchorage icon with about 7 feet MLW at the bar. Depth quickly increases to as much as 15 feet as you carefully move up the narrow unmarked channel. Depth at the icon is about 15 feet MLW and the channel width at that point is about 250 feet. In most circumstances you will align with the current flow but, with 90 feet of chain out, slack tide, and winds not aligned with the current flow, there will be times that you will wander and it is important that you place your boat nearly in the center of the channel to handle this. There is room for four or more boats, aligned in the center of the channel to safely anchor and swing. The sailboat already anchored just above the icon was resting on bow and stern anchors and was not swinging. We were not comfortable with the situation so we spun and headed back down the channel to the entry where, towards the river side, at the end of the island tail, we dropped our anchor in 9 feet MLW with the anchor immediately setting itself. There was plenty of space between us and the channel for anyone who wanted in or out. We felt more comfortable in this location even though it looked like it was more exposed.

Ebb current at Pollepel Island is about 1.5 mph and we swung into the ebb tide and then back into the flood tides easily with no anchor drag. We found ourselves further away from the east shore train whistles as well. The weather started quietly but we had a period of 10-15 mph winds during the night and we were glad that we had chosen to anchor with extra swing room. We slept well. Yes, there were wakes, but not bad. Yes there were trains on both sides of the river but you kind of get used to them. In the morning we waited for the flood tide, pulled a clean anchor, and started up the river with a favorable current after a good stay.

Pollepel Island is the home of the remains of Bannerman Castle, a private arsenal that blew up and then caught fire. There are supervised tours of the island but boaters are not encouraged to land there. Cell service was very good for the three major carriers. There is a small beach about a mile below the water intake that you can take Fido to if needed.

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Anchorage Review for Hudson Palisades

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 11, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Palisades above the George Washington Bridge are breathtaking. You are still in New York City and you can see the skyscrapers through the central span of the bridge, but you are anchored just off cliffs several hundred feet high with no obvious human occupation. Sunset and the city skyline in the evening are quite special.

We timed our trip up the Harlem River to reach the Spuyten Duyvil Swing Bridge at slack tide on the Harlem. This meant that we were going to be faced with about three hours of adverse tide on our trip up the Hudson. Not wanting to deal with 5 mph travel, we decided to anchor on the New Jersey shore, above the Englewood Marina. We dropped anchor in 15 feet of water MLW with an ebb tide of about 3 mph using about 90 feet of 3/8" chain and a 90# Rocna anchor. The anchor bit and held as we backed down on it. It was later in the afternoon and we decided that we were going to spend the night and leave early on the flood to move up the river. We set a tight anchor alarm, and went about our late afternoon chores and dinner. The boat swung around with the tide and faced downriver towards NYC and dragged about 50 feet before it held when the current set in. We reset the anchor alarm and went back to bed. We swung back after midnight and did not drag. The anchor came up early in the morning with mud on it but not much on the chain. We motored off with a following current for our trip up the Hudson.

This anchorage is exposed to wakes (and there were some, even into the night with commercial traffic.) Winds from the north or south will be amplified by the nearby cliffs. Ebb currents can reach 3 mph so ground tackle needs to be properly deployed. There is road noise from the bridge, especially if there is a south wind, and trains run up the New York Shore until late in the evening. There is excellent cell reception but no shore access. We can only rate this anchorage as two star and then only because it is a good setup. We would prefer to anchor in more protected waters but this will do well in a pinch.

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Marina Review for Troy Downtown Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 10, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

The marina is a floating face dock on the Hudson River LDB just above the Federal Street Bridge. The depth is 19' MLW, the docks are floating (6' tide even this far up) and they are new. The power pedestals (with water) are also in good shape. The dockmaster and his assistant made a point of meeting us on the dock to assist us and give us useful local information. There is fuel and pump out available at the north end of the dock. The marina is "bare bones. The bathrooms are up on the promenade in a trailer. There is no laundry. There is a gate to the dock but it remained open at night. The docks were well illuminated. There is not marina Wi-Fi. The dock was full with 7 40-50' foot boats tied up. The Federal Lock is about a mile upstream. Reservations are made through Snag-a-Slip.

We came in on Friday for the Saturday Farmer's Market which has quite the reputation. There was no problem delaying our departure until after noon. The market is held just south of the Federal Street Bridge and just off the river. The area that the market is held in is filled with interesting stores and restaurants that, under other circumstances, we would love to spend time browsing. There is a large selection of restaurants within a half mile of the dock. We had an excellent meal at Dinosaur Bar-b-que on the river. The location, the service we received, the Farmer's Market all contribute to the 4 star rating that we feel is justified for this marina.

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Marina Review for Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 9, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Shady Harbor Marina is a AGLCA sponsor and presents the Hudson River/Erie route segment at the Spring Rendezvous. The docks are open to the river but the wakes don't cause much trouble in the marina. There is 12' MLW depth on the dock where we were tied. The docks are floating, sturdy and stable, well maintained, with good electric and water. The fuel dock is an easily accessible side tie and the staff is there to help when you need them with fuel and pump out. The office/store is centrally located and well organized. The store rivals many smaller marine stores I have seen and, if you are staying for a couple of days, they will order items from their supplier at reasonable prices. The staff could not be nicer. The marina has two courtesy cars available. There is everything to like about the place including a great restaurant. And they haul and fix boats as well.

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Free Dock Review for Coxsackie Riverside Park Town Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 9, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Coxsackie (pronounced "cook SAH key") Free Dock is 0.2 miles in from Green 159 RDB and consists of two separate floating aluminum docks in front of the village Riverside Park totaling about 230' of dock space. The docks are in very good condition and sit in 13' MLW. Although the town in on the river, there is very little tidal current at the dock. There is no water or power, bathrooms are at the other end of the park, and, as we were here on a Tuesday afternoon, virtually everything in town except Yellow Deli (just across the street) was closed. Still, you cannot beat it for the price. Cellular reception is good for AT&T and Verizon and very good for T-Mobile. There is open town Wi-Fi available on the dock (Riverside_by_Statetel). There was very little boat traffic from the town and the wakes from the river traffic did manage to get to the docks, but with little remaining force. Two thunderstorms came through but did not cause any real discomfort. We would like to come back on a nice Friday afternoon.

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Free Dock Review for Town of Athens

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 6, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

We came in to the Athens Free Dock in the middle of the day for lunch and to wait for the turn of the tide to flood before heading further up the river. The 80' long aluminum floating dock was in good shape and had 12' MLW depth at dockside. It is obvious that the village has invested in park and dock renovations; everything was in good shape and well taken care of. It was Monday but Stella's Restaurant, across from the dock was open and the weather was nice enough to have lunch in the park. We had a chance to walk around town and there were several interesting restaurants and shops that we would have loved to go into but most of the stores this early in the season were open Thursday through Sunday. The tide changed and we were back on our way north after a very pleasant three hours ashore.

There are prominent signs on the dock that say "No Overnight Docking" but there are reports from boats that have spent the night on the dock and have not been bothered. We had anchored out but there was a 45' boat that had spent the night on the dock with no issues. The dock has a smaller indented section on the south end of the pier that is used by the Hudson Ferry. Do not tie up there. Cell service is very good for the major carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Middle Ground Flats

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 6, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

When we arrived at Athens there was already a 45 foot trawler on the 80' long Athens Free Dock so we anchored out for the night at the Middle Flats anchorage icon in 12' MLW with excellent holding in sandy mud. In the morning the anchor came up clean. There are two things to remember with this anchorage. First, there is a 5' tide and, second, there is as much as a 2.5 mph current on the major ebb tide. Don't skip on scope. We were a comfortable distance off the shore and had plenty of room as we swung with the change of current. There was 15 mile per hour winds from the north when we anchored at 1500 but the waves coming down the channel were not an issue. The anchorage is exposed on an NE/SW axis and consideration should be given with strong winds from those directions. It was a Monday and there was little traffic and no wakes to bother us. The anchorage is far enough around the corner that you are not bothered by traffic in the main channel. Cell phone reception was very good for all three major carriers. Shore access is available at the Athens Town Dock or across the river at the Hudson Town dock.

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Marina Review for Kingston City Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 5, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

Turn off the Hudson on Right Descending Bank at the Rondout Light and head up the Rondout River channel 1.25 miles and the marina will be on the river's north shore right in the center of the historic village of Kingston. Docks are floating and, for boats under 35', there will be slips. Up to four larger boats (to 50') there will are side ties, several of which will require careful maneuvering when docking. There is current in the river but it is not strong. At the moment there is major bridge work being done on the Wurts Street Historic Bridge. The air compressors supporting the sandblasting and painting are just off the west end of the town dock. It appears that they work for 7 am to 5 pm six days a week. You want to make sure that you are not put on that end of the dock: The compressors are loud. When the work is finished I would raise the rating to three stars.

The marina is a municipal property and it is clear that there is an investment program to maintain the facility at an acceptable level but it is also clear that the target level is "usable", not "fabulous". Protection from wind, wakes, waves, and current is very good. Everyone obeys the "No Wake" sign. Cell signal was very good for the three carriers and there is marina Wi-Fi, but the signal did not reach our slip so we could not test it out. There is a key coded security gate to get down to the floating docks, and a single, utilitarian, key coded bathroom/shower is located off the docks, in the local park. Our slip had two 30 amp power outlets so, if you have 50 amp shore power you will have to have your own combiner adapter to make it work. Dock depths at the far upstream end of the 600 foot dock were 7' MLW. Dock cleats are well secured and properly spaced. The marina is an acceptable place to dock your boat but that's about it.

In real estate they say that it is all about location. Why would you want to stop at Kingston Municipal Marina? Location, Location, Location. If you are looking for a place to spend an extra day going ashore it would be hard to do better than Kingston, even without a car. For provisioning, Hannaford's is about 3 miles away and Stewarts is only a mile up the road. Both use delivery services. Two liquor stores are within a mile of the dock. There are ten restaurants within a half mile of the dock, including one that sells outstanding local ice cream. There are several galleries and art cooperatives in the historic district and, for those who are interested in boats and boating history, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a must stop. All the history you never knew. Have you ever heard of the Rondout Canal? History is staring you in the face. This is really a great destination stop, worth spending and extra day comfortably visiting the city.

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Marina Review for Port Washington Mooring Field

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 31, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This mooring field is listed as a marina. This area is also listed as an anchorage which it is. Both managed by the Town launch (VHF Channel 09) that will pick you up at your boat and take you to several different places on shore and return you to your boat for $8 per person. If you pick up a yellow town mooring ball, the first night is free but you pay for launch service. After that it is $35 per day including unlimited launch service (last run is 2145 hrs.) The mooring field is well maintained and there is ample room between the moorings so you do not feel cramped at all. There is plenty of depth on approach but pay attention to the markers for best water. The anchorage is well protected from all directions except West where it should be considered only "good." "No Wake" courtesy was observed by 95% of the boaters while we were there. Cell service is excellent for all three carriers. There are no traditional marina services available but you can get a free pump out and water available at the North Hempstead Town Dock,

There is a large grocery store, pharmacy and a liquor store a half a mile from the north landing dock. There is a laundromat and a West Marine store about a mile away. We did not eat out but looking at Google and the reviews there is quite an nice assortment of cuisines and restaurants.

This is the ideal place to stage for your run through New York City on your way out into Long Island Sound. We came up from Great Kills Harbor at the beginning of the flood tide and made it to Port Washington in a little over five hours in less than ideal weather. Definitely a place to come back to.

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Marina Review for Richmond County Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 30, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Great Kills Harbor offers full protection from waves, wakes, and current from all directions and winds from southwest around to north. It is a basin with a tight but deep entrance on the west side of the harbor and a large and deep mooring field that takes up most, but not all, of the usable space in the harbor. Richmond County Yacht Club runs the mooring field and offers transient moorings to members of reciprocal clubs for a reasonable fee that is currently $55 per night. The fee includes launch service to the club, the use of club facilities which were immaculate, the restaurant and bar, and access to town with shopping and restaurants within easy walking distance. The only thing missing was a laundry. There are spaces where you can anchor but remember that your scope and swing should not interfere with people on mooring balls. Club privileges for the fee are available to people at anchor. The very nice beach on the outside of the basin is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and is an easy walk or dinghy ride away.

We spent three nights here, hunkered down away from Memorial Day/Fleet Week traffic in New York Harbor and the 25-30 mph winds that seemed to come up every day. The basin is low and, in winds with an easterly component, there is little to protect you from the blow. There was not sufficient fetch in the basin to create waves so we simply took down our burgee to reduce the noise on the boat. We use launch service every day (Channel 09) and they were always prompt and courteous.

After the weekend we slipped the mooring, made it to The Narrows at the change of flow, and got a lift through the harbor and into the East River and Long Island Sound. For a low stress NYC stopping place, you cannot do any better than this.

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Marina Review for Captain Bill's Landing

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 27, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Captain Bill's Landing is the first marina you will encounter as you enter Manasquan inlet from the ocean so all traffic passes by on its way in and out of the inlet. Some of the traffic is across the channel but half of it comes by very close and sometimes at "Just a Little Wake" speed in the no wake zone. It all calms down after the sun goes down and the restaurants are quiet after 10pm. Boat traffic (and wakes) starts before first light.

Manasquan River has current, narrow channels, a funky railroad bridge, and an unbelievable number of water oriented businesses. There is a lot going on with a hodge-podge of boats from kayaks and center consoles to 100' head and charter boats to a large commercial fishing fleet. Tranquility is not on the menu anywhere in the inlet.

Captain Bill's has several slips but we have ended up on the fixed fuel dock twice, on a remote dock once, and in a real slip one time. Minimum depth is 6' MLW and there is a 3 foot tide. Tie your lines accordingly. We were glad that we had fender boards to deploy. If you are on the fuel dock you will have to vacate when it opens at 6am. Bill usually has had the lowest price on diesel in the area. He also has the lowest transient dock rate in the inlet as far as we can see. You will have access to fresh water and a clean bathroom is open during business hours. There is no laundry or shower. We didn't use power. If you are a fisherman, you will love the ship's store. There are several restaurants close at hand and the beach is about a half mile away. The best thing about the marina is the people. They are professional, personable, and really want to make sure that you are well treated. There is always someone on the dock to help you dock. In Manasquan you cannot ask for more. We will be back and will, as in this visit, be thankful for Captain Bill's.

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Anchorage Review for Rum Point Basin

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 26, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The entrance to Rum Point Basin is on the east shore of the Absecon Inlet a quarter mile before the Brigantine Blvd Bridge. While the entry looks intimidating it is essentially a matter of staying close to the grassy side of the channel (port side coming in) for a minimum of 8 feet MLW in the channel. Pass the white "Shallow Water" buoy on your starboard side. The channel was dredged in 2022. As you enter the basin the anchorage icon is to the southeast and is currently located in the middle of what looks like a mooring field. The mooring balls were there but no boats. We left the channel and moved towards the north and anchored at 39? 23.293 -78? 23.575 in 7 feet MLW. The anchor set and held immediately for the entirety of our stay which included long periods with winds over 30mph. Wind protection is fair but there is limited fetch so the anchorage remained comfortable. There is a strong current in the entrance channel but there is none to speak of in the basin. On good days there is quite a bit of small boat traffic but during our weather enforced stay most boats remained at their docks. Wakes may be a problem during the day but traffic drops of to zero at night. There is some road noise from Brigantine Blvd but it was not intrusive. There is an Acme supermarket, a Walgreens Pharmacy, and several restaurants at the north end of the basin but no shore access is provided for boaters in the area and there are reports of issues with the local authorities. If Fido needs to go to shore you can use the lovely sand beach at Rum Point in the entry canal. Atlantic City is across the Absecon Inlet. Cellular service is excellent for all three major carriers. This is definitely a good place to hunker down or spend an off day relaxing.

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Anchorage Review for Atlantic City

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 23, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We arrived at low tide so we anchored temporarily at the Atlantic City Anchorage by the Coast Guard station. There was 16 feet MLW at the anchorage icon and the anchor set immediately with appropriate scope out for the incoming (five foot) tide. The only wind and wave protection is from the south. Winds were from the northeast at 10 miles per hour with gusts to 20 and we had a 2mph current keeping us in line with the tide both ways. There is shore access available but we were not going to get involved with going ashore. Cell service is excellent. Overnight the winds picked up and the anchorage became bumpy. The forecast looked like we were going to be in Atlantic City for a while so we moved to the protection of Rum Point Basin across the river. For a quick late afternoon in and early morning out in fair weather this is an uncomplicated stop. We can't recommend it for anything else.

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Anchorage Review for Bennett Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 21, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn north into Bennett Creek from the NJ ICW between Green 473 and 471 at approximately mile marker 110.5. Staying center channel you will go over an 8 feet MLW hump at the entrance and then return to depths of twenty feet. Continue up the channel 0.4 miles with water depths shoaling to 10 feet MLW. Anchor with good holding in mud and a reversing 2 mph tidal current that will keep you aligned with the creek. There is room for four to six boats in a single line. There was little traffic and no wakes during our stay but we also note that there is a jet ski rental business around the corner in Sunset Cove. There is probably going to be activity on good days in season. The anchorage has no wind protection but good relief from wakes and waves. We had 25-30 and had no issues. There is no local shore access but you may be able to land your dinghy at one of the two marinas located a mile and half up the ICW. Cell reception is excellent for all carriers. The anchorage appears to be in the middle of a sea bird rookery. The noises we heard were from the thousands of nesting terns and seagulls. This is definitely a more relaxing place to spend a day or two waiting on the weather than anchoring in downtown Cape May.

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Marina Review for South Jersey Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 20, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Located near the bridge in the Cape May back channel, South Jersey Marina caters to larger boats and sport fishermen and sponsors tournaments during the season. The 4 foot clearance on the Lafayette St. Bridge means that there is no through traffic at the marina. Reservations were handled efficiently and the marina was accommodating to our request for early arrival so that we could get a boat bike repaired. The gas dock and the slips behind it are on the creek so, when the tide is running, there is a considerable current to deal with. The slips behind the gas dock are perpendicular to the current flow so it is best to arrive at slack tide. There is plenty of depth and room to maneuver, even for larger boats.

The physical facilities offer everything that you would want. The docks are floating and in excellent condition. Well maintained power, water, and even fuel are available in slip. The office/store is quite extensive and the newly refurbished laundry room has three large capacity washers and dryers: credit card only. Showers are on the second floor and can only be described as "Deluxe." There is a restaurant on site and several others, including the Lobster House, within easy walking distance. Cell service was excellent for all carriers and we had excellent internet connectivity. Marina Wi-Fi was string and fast as well. There is no gated security at the marina but all areas were well lit and there was no sense of concern for safety.

A special mention must be made of the marina staff. Everyone that we came in contact with provided the necessary help in a professional but also friendly fashion. They went out of their way to make our stay more than pleasant and we saw this as they helped two other boats into the marina as well. There is a courtesy car that will take you into town for shopping or food during the day and there is Uber service for evening outings.

The town of Cape May is really quite interesting. It is recognized as the oldest seaside resort in the country with a history going back to the mid-eighteenth century. You could spend a week simply walking around the different area of interests, soaking up the rich history of the place. Cape May is also on the Atlantic Waterfowl Flyway and there are several important wildlife refuges nearby. An Acme supermarket is in town and an ALDI supermarket is five miles north of the marina. The courtesy car will take you and pick you up. We ate lunch downtown at Key West Tacos and had a delicious meal. For us the stay was a surprise. We have been through Cape May several times before but it was always as an overnight stopping point transiting the Atlantic or Delaware Bay. It is worth the time to stop and sample what the town has to offer.

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Anchorage Review for Cape May Harbor East

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 19, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The anchorage is off the inlet channel starting at Green 7A, just east of the US Coast Guard Station and continuing towards Green 7. Currently there is a lot of dredging equipment limiting the eastern half of the anchorage but there is still room for ten or more boats in the anchorage, arranged in lines in from the Green side of the channel towards the shore. Remember that there is a six foot tide so adjust anchor rode length accordingly. Depths near the channel are 11 feet MLW and shoal as you get closer to shore. Ensure that your anchor is properly set: two boats had to pull anchor and reset. Tidal current is strong and all boats will end up facing into the 2+ mph current Change of tide is can create some chaos as different style boats will react differently. Traffic does not come by at speed but wakes during the day (starting before 6am) make the anchorage bouncy. There is really no wind protection from any direction but fetch is short so there is no real chop build up in the anchorage. Shore access is across the harbor at one of the marinas. Utsch's marina fuel dock gives good dinghy access to town. Do not try to land at the Coast Guard Station shore for pet relief. Cell reception is excellent. Be prepared to hear the USCG Training Center recruits doing the PT with the appropriate enthusiastic chanting starting early and ending late in the day. This is a strategic, but not comfortable, place to stage for a weather window to run up the Atlantic towards New York City or transit Delaware Bay.

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Free Dock Review for Town of Chesapeake City Municipal Docks - MD

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 17, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

What is not to love about a floating free dock in good repair right in the middle of the city's historic district? And add shore power for $15 dollars a day on top of it? Chesapeake City Municipal Dock is all this. Enter the basin by favoring the east side of the entry channel as there is some shoaling to 5 feet MLW on the west side and, once inside turn around and head to the dock on the west side of the entry. You will find 7 feet MLW at the dock. There are 200 feet of dock space but about 90 feet is reserved for a tour boat operator so there is room for two 40' + boats on the dock. There are three spaces behind the south end of the dock for smaller boats but two of them seem to have permanent occupants. The docks are in excellent condition with rubber bumpers on the edges and sturdy cleats for your lines. To depart you will have to move straight down the dock paying attention to the 5' MLW hump between the dock and the channel. Internet service was very good for the major carriers and we spent a quiet pre-season mid-week night before leaving for the C&D Canal. If there is not room on the dock there is good anchoring in the basin for a large number of boats. There were eight boats at anchor when we were there and the was plenty of room for another ten.

Chesapeake City was still in the process of opening for the season so a lot of restaurants and shops were closed during the week, opening Friday through Sunday. We did make it to the C&D Canal Museum, located around the back side of the basin, about a half mile walk from the dock. It well worth the walk as there is great information on the history of the planning, building, and operations of the canal. The most interesting exhibit is the preserved pump house, containing the preserved engines and waterwheel that was used to maintain water levels in the canal when there were locks at both ends.

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Anchorage Review for Bohemia River - Veazey Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 16, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Bohemia River has shoaled in some and, were it not for the fact that we were entering on a rising tide and would be leaving near a 3 foot high tide, we would probably not have anchored here for the night. The entry started at 12 feet mlw but decreased to 6 feet MLW getting back to the anchorage. At the anchorage icon we found about 5.5 feet MLW with good holding in mud. The spot is exposed from the north/northwest but has good wave and wind protection from all directions with a southerly component. This is definitely a fair weather anchorage. We were comfortable but were glad to move on in the morning. Vessels drawing less than five feet will be able to move closer to shore for protection from southerly weather but discretion left us at the icon.

There is the possibility of shore access but we could not find any in the cove as all the land was clearly private. The closest shore access might be at one of the marinas about 1.5 miles across the river to the north. Cell service was good for all carriers.

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Marina Review for Tidewater Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 15, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Ten miles off the Upper Chesapeake travelway, Havre de Grace gets bypassed by the vast majority of Atlantic Coast boaters. It's a shame because there is much to like here. Tidewater Marina is located in the middle of the historic town with museums, restaurants, arts, shops, and Bomboys Ice Cream within easy walking distance. It is a good place to tie up for a day or two to relax and enjoy the town.

Tidewater is a working marina; there are many boats on the hard being worked on by staff, contactors, and owners getting ready for the season. Located in the heart of Havre de Grace, the marina consists of three separate basins, each containing docks for different sized boats. The entrance to each basin is tight and, on a 48 foot boat, we were very careful maneuvering into our slip. All the docks are fixed and with a three foot tide and no cleats to tie off to, a good line strategy is important. We deployed fender boards even though there were bumpers on the pylons. The dock that we were on had just been redone as part of what appears to be an ongoing marina maintenance program. None of the fixtures were new but water and power connections were well maintained and worked with no problems.

The marina staff was responsive to our needs. Telephones were answered, radios were responded to and there were two staff members on the dock to assist us. The staff at the well maintained office/store was very accommodating. Like the docks, the bath house was clean and well maintained. Six individual units each contained shower, toilet, sink, and dressing area. We faulted the marina for its lack of laundry facilities. The marina is secured behind keypad controlled gates and is well illuminated at night. We felt comfortable during our stay. Marina Wi-Fi was excellent and cellular reception was very good for T-Mobile and good for Verizon an AT&T. The marina was quiet at night with the exception of the high speed NYC/DC passenger trains coming by about a half mile away.

We enjoyed Havre de Grace. The maritime museum was very interesting and the choice of restaurants for eating out was good. We could easily come back and spend more time in this marina and in the town.

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Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Woodland Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the channel to the south between Red 8 and Red 10 and proceed towards the middle of the creek for the deepest water. We anchored 250 yards in front of the anchor icon in 7 foot MLW with good holding. The anchorage is quite open in all directions and wind and wave protection are just fair. We had less than 10 mph winds so this was no problem. Although the anchorage is a good distance off the channel, we were rocked by boats traveling at speed. Traffic dies with the sun so we had a good night's sleep but we can imagine that this anchorage will be rocky during the day on weekends in season. Cell service and internet were fair for Verizon and T-Mobile but AT&T only managed 1-2 bars of 4G service. There are several sandy strips along the shore to take Fido if necessary but real shore access is two miles away at Georgetown.

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Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Turner Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the Sassafras River at Green 3 and head towards the LDB entrance to Turner Creek with a minimum of 11 feet MLW as you approach the two private green entrance marks. Both marks should be taken to port on entering the creek. We found the marks mis-placed on our charting programs. Follow the channel on your chartplotter with no less than 7 feet MLW heading back towards the anchor icon where there is 7 feet MLW with good holding in mud. There is a 2.5 foot major tide in the creek so calculate low water depth before dropping your anchor. East/west wind protection is excellent, north/south is only good due to the available fetch on this axis. There is very good wave protection in the anchorage. Unlike other anchorages on the Sassafras, there is complete wake protection from the river. Boats in the creek traveled at no wake speeds even though it is not marked as a no wake zone. There is a slight tidal current in the river and we swung with the tide. There is room for three or four large boats in a line. We spent a quiet night at anchor with no bouncing. The anchorage is a good heavy weather hole to hide in for the duration.

The eastern shore of the creek is developed with many private docks and boats. The western shore is the State of Maryland Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area (pet friendly) and is accessible from the boat launch. There is no shopping in the area and cell service is poor to fair (1-2 bars). We were here mid-week pre-season and it was quiet. Reports are that it is busy on weekends in season.

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Anchorage Review for Worton Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the travelway to the east at Red 34a and go two miles into the Whorton Creek entrance with no less than 11 feet MLW. Turn towards the south shore and approach the anchorage icon where you will find 9 feet MLW with good holding and good protection from winds with a southerly component. Our anchor came up with clean chain and a large glob on mud and shell mixture on the achor. If anchoring in winds from the north, choose the other side of the entrance channel and anchor under the lee of the northern cliffs in similar depths. At the height of the tide there is a small current running through the anchorage that may turn your boat around in light winds. Wind protection is good except for winds from the west coming into the open entrance to the creek.

There is a small sand beach on the south shore just behind the anchorage icon where you can take fido for relief but there is really not much to go ashore for beyond that. Cell reception for AT&T and Verizon was 2 bars. T-Mobile had 4 bars of 5-G service. There is traffic in and out of the harbor but, during our stay everyone was respectful of their wakes and did not bother us at all. The anchorage is quiet and quite pretty. Although you can see the development in the inner harbor, at anchor you are surrounded by undeveloped shores. An excellent stop going to or coming from the C&D Canal.

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Free Dock Review for Rock Hall Harbor

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Enter Rock Hall Harbor with 7.5 feet MLW in the entrance channel between Green 3 and Green 5. Turn into the eastern channel at Red 2e, proceed to Red 4E and then turn north to dock between Red 14 and Red 12 in 9+ feet MLW. The Free Dock in Rock Hall is also the loading dock for the local fishermen and it is appreciated if transient boats do not take up too much space. Part of the dock area for transients is a five foot high bulkhead that is a little rough. We used our fender boards for protection. The northern half of the wall has a newer 3 foot high dock with less intimidating pylons. There is a single post that has in interesting mix of electrical outlets on it but none of them were live. There are no water or trash receptacles on the dock. There are bathrooms at the Bayside Landing Park but they were still closed early season.

The parking lot is large, runs up to the bulkhead, and is used not only to park vehicles and trailers filled with crab pots, but also as the loading and unloading space for the local fishing fleet. Things get started on fisherman's time here, which was 4:30 am pre-season. The disturbance was not as bad as we feared and, after the boats left, we fell back to sleep, The harbor has a large breakwater protecting it but we still experienced wakes moving in from the bay even when there were no boats around. We can imagine that, in a strong south wind, it might be uncomfortable on the dock.

Rock Hall appears to be more of a working town than one filled with summer homes. Although there are eight marinas in the area and plenty of pleasure boats, the harbor is also home for a large fleet of local fishing boats. Watermen were unloading crab pots on the dock in preparation for the season. We were pre-season and mid-week so almost every restaurant was closed, prepping for the crowds.

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Anchorage Review for Corsica River - Cedar Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter the Corsica River and continue up to Red "4" staying mid-channel with no less than 11 feet MLW of depth. Leave R4 and head straight for the entrance to Emory Creek, leaving the Corsica Yacht Club mooring field to port on approach. There is 9 feet MLW at the anchor icon. We anchored in front of the icon with excellent wind, and wave protection from the west through the north an around to the southeast. Protection from the other points was good. We did experience a couple of fishing boats that passed close by as they entered and exited the creek, but it was not excessive. The anchorage was quiet and peaceful. Cellular service was poor for ATT and Verizon and good for T-Mobile with three bars and 20 mbps download speeds on our cellular gateway. There is no nearby shore access but, if you go three miles further up the Corsica River you will arrive at the boat launch in Centerville with restaurants, stores, and a supermarket. This is a great anchorage to spend an extra day or two relaxing.

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Anchorage Review for Corsica River - Town Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report – Turn south after Red "2" and head towards the anchorage icon with no less than 11 feet MLW approaching the back of the Cove. There is 10 feet MLW at the icon which is tucked into the back of the cove. Excellent wind, wave, and wake protection for winds from the east, through the south, and around to the northeast. Current should not be a problem as the cove is well off deep water. We did not anchor but throughout the cove we did not see anything but clean bottom. Although the cove has several large houses, there is not the feeling of being in their back yards, even though they are close by. There is an entrance to a shallow water cove to the south that might be a place to take Fido ashore. Two bars for the major cell carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Granary Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report – Three quarters of a mile further up Wye East from Dividing Creek is the entrance to Granary Creek. Stay center channel for nine feet of water mlw, going down to about 7 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. The best protection is in the upper half of the creek. Excellent wind, wave, and wake protection. No current. There is reported good holding in mud. Cellular reception is poor (1 bar). There is very good shore access at the kayak launch at the head of the creek with stairs going up the bank to a manicured park area with several trails to exercise both dog and owner. Wye Island is a Maryland Natural Resource Management Area. (https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/wyeisland.aspx) There is no shopping in the area.

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Anchorage Review for Dividing Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 13, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Located in the Wye River East (Back Wye), about three miles beyond Shaw Bay and five miles for Green 1W at the mouth of the river, Dividing Creek provides excellent protection against heavy weather coming from all directions except the south where protection is only good. Enter with 10 foot depths mlw and proceed back to the anchorage icon for a depth of 8 feet mlw. Wind, wave, current, and wake protection are excellent in and there is a minimum width of 200 feet of deep water channel to the icon. The bottom is mud. We held well on our third anchoring attempt which is unusual. Care should be taken to make sure the anchor is properly set before turning your attention to other things.

Wye Island is a nature resource management area and Dividing Creek is in the middle of it all. Although the interior of the island is farmed, the shoreline on both sides of the creek is wooded with no houses. There are several nature trails running through the woods. At the head of the creek on the western shore there is a primitive kayak/canoe launch area that provides minimal shore access. For Fido there are two better beaches on small sandy spots either side of the entrance to the creek. Cell reception is only fair on the three major carriers and our internet speeds (less than 2mbps) reflected this. The natural beauty of the creek and the protection afforded make this a great stop to decompress and ride out bad weather. We stayed here for three days and left refreshed. Definitely one of the best anchorages we have stayed in.

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Marina Review for Chestertown Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 6, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

It is a 23 mile run from Kent Narrows up the Chester River to Chestertown but the town is an excellent destination for Chesapeake Cruisers and it is worth the trip, especially if you can catch the tide to give you a lift. The river is deep and well-marked and dockside depths at the marina are over 12 feet MLW. The marina has undergone a major renovation recently and it shows. Two of the three docks (including the gas dock) are now floating with brand new infrastructure. The power pedestals conform to the updated GFCI regulations. Gas, diesel, and pump out ($5) are available on the face of the middle dock and the dockmaster was present to assist us on arrival. Even though Chesterton is quite far up the Chester River, there is tidal current that runs as fast as 0.75 mph and a 3 foot tide. Docking can sometimes be challenging. Time your arrival around slack tidal flow if possible. The new Dockmaster's office includes very nice bathroom/showers and a new laundry room that accepts quarters. There are no physical security measures at the marina but it does not feel like they would be necessary. We had no problems at all during our stay.

One of the best things about this marina is the Dockmaster, Paul Coleman. He could not have been more helpful from first contact through docking, pump out, docking in our slip, and providing information on the town and what to do. Although there is a restaurant on site, there is a "For Sale" sign on it and it is not operating. This is not a problem because the center of the historic downtown is less than a ten minute walk away and there are many options open to boaters in easy walking distance. Marina Wi-Fi was very good with easy connectivity and speeds averages around 15mbps download. Cell service was good for both Verizon and T-Mobile, but AT&T service was poor.

There is an Acme grocery store about a mile and half from the marina to do a re-stock and there are several hardware and automotive stores about the same distance away for necessities. The thing that made this stop special was the combination of hundreds of years of history and the conveniences afforded the boater within easy walking distance of the marina. We were in port on Saturday and the local farmers market was open from 8am to noon. By itself, it was worth the trip up the river. We ate breakfast at Modern Stone Age Kitchen and highly recommend a stop there for many reasons.

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Marina Review for St. Michaels Marina LLC

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on May 2, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

St. Michaels Marina is located in the southwest corner of the pocket that is St. Michaels. Approach depths were no less than 12 feet mlw and we found 7.5 feet mlw at our slip. The gas dock, selling both gasoline and diesel, is a face dock located on the small channel the turns south between St Michaels Marina and St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina. There is plenty of room to turn and come into the dock for a portside tie for fuel. There is good wave, and wind protection in all directions except from the east, were a good blow will bring some waves into the back of the harbor. Pumpout service was not available during our stay as their system is in the process of being replaced. Completion is scheduled by the middle of May but, if this is important to you, check.

All docks are fixed and are in good repair. Electric (30/50) and water are provided on the dock. There are good, clean showers and a new laundry (accepts quarters) available on site. There are no physical security measures on the docks but they are well lit and there was no issues with the public on the docks. Marina WiFi is easy to connect to and has acceptable speed. Cell reception is excellent for all carriers. In season rates for dockage and electricity should be noted when making reservations.

We were here pre-season with a group of twelve boats. The dock staff was limited but very knowledgeable and responsive to their duties. The two restaurants at the marina are very good. There are several other good restaurants within easy walking distance. There is a pool on site.

St. Michaels is noted as being one of the best summer communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We can imagine that the harbor and the town get crowded during the season. There are several museums and galleries in the town. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a must see. Grocery shopping is available from several smaller stores but resupply would require a trip to Easton, ten miles away, where there are several supermarkets, a Wal-Mart and a Lowes.

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Anchorage Review for Lloyd Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 27, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn south off the Wye River opposite Green "3" and follow the windy entrance channel carefully with your chartplotter with a minimum of 12 feet mlw on approach. There is 10 feet mlw at the anchorage icon with depth decreasing as you move further up the creek. Good holding in mud with good wind and wave protection in all directions except north, where protection is only fair. There is no current running in the creek and we had no boats pass us in while we were anchored here. This anchorage is definitely less populated than nearby Shaw Bay. There is no shore access nearby and no shopping in the neighborhood. The shore is dotted with widely scattered houses. Cell phone reception was fair for AT&T and T-Mobile, only one bar for Verizon. Definitely a good anchorage if you just want to kick back and relax quietly.

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Anchorage Review for Oxford - Town Creek Channel

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 27, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Town Creek Channel Anchorage is just off the channel leading into the marinas in the center of town. Located just off the Safe Harbor Oxford Marina, care must be taken to give enough space for boats using the marina while staying out of the travelway. Depth in the anchorage is 9.5 feet mlw. Our anchor bit on the first try and stuck solid with 50 feet of chain out on a snubber. Wind and wave protections are excellent and the anchorage is in a no wake zone. Even the local commercial fishermen abide by it. We were not waked at all during the morning rush hour. There is no current to speak of and you will swing with the wind. We had winds up to 15 miles per hour from the west and had no problems staying off the marina docks and out of the channel.

Shore access is in the middle of town at the Oxford Dinghy dock which is at the foot of Market St. Oxford is a small town and there is not that much traffic, either on land or in the water on a Monday night in April. There is a big restaurant with outdoor seating at the boat launch adjacent to the anchorage and they have space and depth for two 40 foot plus boats on the outside of their docks. Docking is free for dinner and overnight stays are possible for a reported $2.00 per foot.

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Anchorage Review for Shaw Bay

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 26, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report - Shaw Bay is quite large and there is sufficient fetch from the north (3/4 miles) for waves to be kicked up. The bay is deep up to the shore and I can see people "playing' in the bay and there being a problem with wakes during the day. Depth at the anchorage icon was 11 feet mlw and we followed the charted break depth line east from the icon for about a half mile. Plenty or room for any number of boats. .

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Anchorage Review for Choptank River - La Trappe Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 24, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report – Leave the Choptank main channel between Red "18" and Green "19 and head directly for La Trappe Creek Green "1". There is currently a single, poorly oriented day board mounted on a large Cylindrical Structure. You should be able to see La Trappe Red "2" on a similar structure about 0.2 miles further up the creek. Expect a minimum of 9 feet mlw water depth at the entrance but make sure to follow the depth contours as you move between G-1 and R-2. Best depth is not a straight shot from mark to mark. There is a minimum of 9 feet mlw in the channel and as you turn into the well protected anchorage. Depth drops to 8 feet at the anchorage icon. Holding is reported to be good. There is room for four to six 40 foot boats with plenty of swing room. Wind protection is good, but the lower part of the anchorage is open to the wind from most directions. To get more protection from the wind (and perhaps from other boats at anchor) continue up the spur off La Trappe Creek for as much as a third of a mile with good water and better wind protection. Protection from waves and wakes is excellent in all directions. There is no current to speak of running through the anchorage. The water is clear and, in season, swimming would be welcomed. We scouted the anchorage at the end of April and there were no crab pots in the area. There is no shore access on the sandy spit protecting the anchorage to the south: the shore is posted with several "No Trespassing" signs. Shore access to small beaches is either to the east or across La Trappe Creek to the south. Cell reception is good for all three major carriers. There is no nearby shopping. This anchorage checks all the boxes and we will be back to anchor here in the future.

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Free Dock Review for Cambridge Creek Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 24, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Turn off the Choptank River into the well-marked approach to Cambridge Creek. Follow the red marks for the entrance to the creek in no less than 12 feet mlw. The creek basin opens up on the right as you move towards the lift bridge over the creek. The free dock is in front of the Dorchester County Municipal Office Building parking lot and just west of Snappers Waterfront Café and Tiki Bar. The concrete portion occupies the middle of the dock and is over 400 feet long with medium sized cleats spaced on top of the wall every fifteen feet. Dockside depth is 9 feet mlw on the eastern half of the dock and goes down to 4 feet mlw or less on the western half. In most instances lines will come down from the dock to the boat at low tide so we used chafe guards. The tidal range is 2 feet so we arranged our fenders in "Up/Down" pairs to make sure that at least two fenders were always in contact with the bulkhead's concrete cap to keep the boat off the wall. Several obvious signs declare "72 Hour Docking Only - Strictly Enforced." The only amenities are a trash can at the east end of the dock and a couple of picnic tables. There is a fifteen foot wide grass stretch between the dock and parking lot and plenty of other places to walk a dog. There are no security measures but the parking lot is well lit at night and the Sheriff's Office is in the county building at the dock. Cell service was excellent.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and around 4pm a singer started up at Snappers Café adjacent to the free dock. Several local boats came in and tied up for drinks and dinner. The noise level from the restaurant never got uncomfortable and was finished by 10pm. We did not experience any overnight noise or other issues during our stay.

We tied up for three days to ride out severe winds and weather and spent time in the lovely town of Cambridge. There are good restaurants, breweries, bars, and cultural attractions that occupied our free time. Black Water Bakery is the place to go for breakfast. Reservations suggested. This is definitely a stop that we will make again, even if it is by car.

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Anchorage Review for Little Choptank River - Hudson Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 22, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the channel at Green "7" and proceed up Hudson Creek towards Green "1" in 11 feet of water. From this mark proceed directly towards the Little Choptank – Hudson Creek anchorage icon in water slowly diminishing to 8 feet mlw at the icon. Anchor anywhere from the anchorage icon towards the southeast for 300 yards with a constant 8 feet of water. Easily room for 6-8 large boats. Holding is excellent in clay/mud. Our anchor set immediately and did not budge. The anchorage is open to the southeast but has good wave protection from all other points of the compass. The low lying shoreline allows the wind to come across the water from all directions. There is a tidal current in the anchorage so, in light winds, expect to swing with the tide. Although the anchorage is somewhat open, we were comfortable in winds to 15 mph. We would stay here again even in higher winds.

There appears to be two small sandy spots at low tide to take a dog ashore. The first is halfway down the spit to the southeast and the second is a small area on the opposite shore behind Red "2". No shopping opportunities. Surprisingly good cell service, despite the feeling of being away from town that the anchorage has. We anchored here on a lovely Friday evening and there was very little boat traffic. Only one commercial boat came by in the morning at six to remind us that we were on the water.

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Marina Review for 3 Knots Marine

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 20, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

The town of Ewell can be reached from either the Tangier Bay to the east or the Chesapeake from the west. Coming in from Tangier Bay, the channel is shallow to begin with but never showed less than 6.5 feet mlw and, after the first mile, the depths increased to 8+ feet for the remainder of the trip in. Exiting to the west towards Chesapeake Bay the water depth was never less than 8 feet mlw. Both channels are narrow so care must be taken to stay in the center. Even in the off season (Mid April) there was quite a bit of boat traffic going in both directions and passing was done at speed and in close proximity. Give way to oncoming boats, but watch your depth as well. There is a reversing current of about 1 mph that runs through the thoroughfare and the slips at the marina are perpendicular to the current, making docking at mid tide difficult. Plan your arrival at either low or high tide, with hide tide being the better choice for depth at the dock.

3 Knots Marina is being completely redone with a new bath house, updated electric and water, and new docks. Work was being completed (target date mid-May 2023) while we were there but the owner's investment in the facility is clearly obvious and appreciated. We imagine that, during the season, a stay here can be really lovely. The water depth at the end of the finger piers is about 7 feet mlw, but the depth diminishes quickly as you move towards the shore end of the slips. Tie up at the outer end of the slip to maintain water depth under the bow. Do not back into a slip. There is a lot of traffic in and out of the thoroughfare but everyone maintains no wake speed so there is not an issue of being waked while at the dock. Larger boats with more than a four foot draft will have a problem with depth during the bottom half of the tide.

Smith Island is the home of the Maryland State Dessert: Smith Island Cake. No trip to the island is complete without a visit to the Smith Island Bakery to try one (or more) of the 30+ varieties of this awesome dessert. The town has a long and very interesting history that is on display at the Smith Island Heritage and History center, located next to the marina. There is something special about island communities and Smith Island is no exception. We were glad that we made the effort to come here.

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Anchorage Review for Onancock Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting report – Turn off Onancock Creek at R22 and head North into the large pocket that lays outside the channel. Depth will shoal slowly from 13 feet mlw in the channel to 9 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. There is good wind and wave protection from the north through east and to the southeast. No visible shore access. Good cell reception for all three major carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Onancock - Cedar Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report – Turn off Onancock Creek at R28 and head south into the mouth of Cedar Creek with water levels slowly diminishing as you move further off the channel. At the anchorage icon the water depth was 8 feet mlw with good swing room in all directions. There is good wind and wave protection from the east, through the south and around to the west. No visible shore access. Good cell reception for all three major carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Onancock Harbor

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Approach on the Onancock side channel off Pocomoke Sound entrance and go mark to mark up to G 29 in downtown Onancock with no less than 12 feet of water mlw the whole way. Anchor in 7 feet of water mlw at the mouth of the South Branch of the river, taking care to be well off the main channel to be clear of a very large gravel barge that transits the channel regularly. Good holding in mud with good wave, wind, and current protection all round. Looking at all of our charts there appears to be little if any water as you move into the South Branch arm of the river. Riding around in our dinghy showed otherwise, with an estimated 5 feet of water mlw. People with shoal draft boats might want to try moving about 300 yards up the river into a lovely well protected space for two or three boats.

Visit town in your dinghy, docking at the town dinghy/kayak dock that is just beyond the bridge and close to the historic district of the town. Several restaurants and pubs are within easy walking distance. There is a Food Lion 4 miles distant if needed. Interesting galleries are also within easy walking distance of the dock. Very good cell reception for the major carriers. We spent a quiet, protected, restful two nights even with winds gusting to 25 knots.

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Anchorage Review for Poquoson River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 17, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn west at Green "15" in 15 feet of water mlw and proceed directly towards the anchor icon with waters slowly diminishing to 8 feet mlw just before the anchor icon. Anchor set immediately and came up in the morning with mostly clean chain and a good chunk of sandy mud on the anchor. Good wind and wave protection with from north, west, and south winds. Slight tidal current runs through the anchorage so, in light winds, you may swing with the current. We anchored on a nice Sunday evening and there was some boat traffic before dark, but not excessive. No traffic at night. Crab pots visible but mostly in shallower water. Cell phone reception is good for Big Three. The shore is all private land and there is shore access for either fido or shopping.

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Marina Review for Top Rack Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 15, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Top Rack Marina has several things going for it, even if they are face on to the Elizabeth River and there are too many boats that just ignore the "No Wake" zone covering the marina docks.

1. The people are the best. We have been here four different times and the dock crew at the marina is always "four star." They are knowledgeable, competent, and polite. They go the extra mile and always get a tremendous "thank you" from the crew.
2. The restaurant is supposed to be excellent. The snack bar, located on the lower level is great.
3. The diesel price has been the best in the area for the last three visits. It is good to save money.
4. The marina is the last easy access marina before Norfolk and, although it is no longer free, it is still very reasonable. Going south, I would consider going to the Chesapeake Free Docks at Great Bridge.
5. Although there is bridge noise through the evening, a good night's sleep is still possible.

We will continue to make this a scheduled stop going either north or south on the ICW.

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Free Dock Review for South Mills

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 15, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Leaving South Mills Lock there is a long wall extending from the lock to the road bridge 0.4 miles into the Dismal Swamp Canal. The bridge is operated by the lockmaster who drives between the two sites. There is a section of the lock wall about half way between the lock and the bridge where there is yellow painted stripes on the top and down the sides of the wall. There is a mooring cleat in each of these stripes, placed about every 25 feet apart. There is enough room for in the tie up area for a minimum of six boats. Although there are roads on both sides of the canal there traffic was not bad. More noise comes from livestock and dogs in the area.

We left with the 0830 lock opening and made the 1330 lock opening at Deep Creek, the north end of the Great Dismal Swamp Canal with no problems. This was an excellent option for traveling the canal.

There is a convenience store in town, a short walk away. Cell reception was good for all carriers and there is plenty of room to walk pets along the canal.

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Lock comment on South Mills Lock

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

When you approach South Mills Lock from the south you will be looking at a low road bridge over a side channel. The lock is literally 200 yards beyond the corner and the final approach is tight and shallows to 9 feet coming into the lock with little room to maneuver. The lock opens 10 minutes before the scheduled lock opening and, if there is time to kill, it is better slowing down on final approach rather than trying to stop right before the lock. There is more room to pause at the junction with the old barge loading canal, five minutes south of the lock. Check with the lockmaster on VHF Channel 13 to confirm times. Prepare for a port side tie northbound using your own lines for the 8 foot lift.

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Anchorage Review for Goat Island - North

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off the ICW at Green 13 and head into anchorage towards the Right Descending Bank. There is a minimum of 10 feet of water all the way back to the anchorage icon. Scouting around we found no less than eight feet of water in the area with room for at least four to six boats. Excellent wind protection, good wake protection due to the fact that high speed travel on the river seems to be frowned on. There is no current to speak in the anchorage. Cell reception was good for the Big Three Carriers. No shore access in the area.

Goat Island is 10.5 miles from the South Mills Lock. Allow time in the morning to make the lock going no more than seven or eight knots to keep wake damage to the shoreline minimal. There are several "no wake" zones on the way up to the lock.

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Free Dock Review for Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

The dock consists of 150 feet of side tie with 20 foot depths and several slips for transients. 48 hour docking is free but you must be prepared to be confronted with some of the warmest hospitality imaginable. We have been here twice and cannot begin to describe how nice everyone here is. Starting with the "dockmaster" Dan Smith all the way to the students at the college, everyone is wonderfully positive. While there is no security on the dock, it is within the campus and we never felt a moment's concern for our security.

The access to the university facilities has already been described in other posts. The welcome bag, including free stuff, from Maritime Ministries is quite remarkable. Downtown is less than a half mile away with several good restaurants and pubs. The Museum of the Albemarle is worth taking a rest day in Downtown Elizabeth City. Pet friendly. Good cell phone coverage. If you need groceries, Dan will arrange for transportation if at all possible.

The only negative for this free dock is the road noise for the nearby bascule bridge. This is definitely an excellent stop.

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Anchorage Review for North River - Broad Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Leave the ICW at R 164 and head almost due west about 1.5 miles to the anchorage icon which is placed just outside the entrance to Broad Creek. Watch for crab pots. We went another 500 yards closer to shore to gain protection from the forecasted 15 mph winds from the SW and anchored in 9 feet of water with good holding. Although there is sufficient depth for boats to work up into the creek we found no need to do this and spent a comfortable night with calm waters in the lee of the shore. There is room for any number of boats and, depending on wind directions, there is room up and down the shoreline with 10 feet of depth at least a mile north of the anchorage icon to protect against west and NW winds. If there are winds with an easterly component, you might think about moving 30 minutes north on the ICW and try anchoring at Buck Island South. North of the anchorage icon there is one charted snag to watch out for but we found the bottom contour to be uncluttered with debris. In the morning the anchor chain came up clean but the anchor had a large clump of mud on it that required cleaning.

There is no immediate or close by shore access in this anchorage. Crab pots are scattered around the area but are not a major issue. Note must be made that "fuzzy bills" are a problem in the entire area from April through October. We have encountered them twice in the past five years. They are midges and will cover the outside of your boat and get into the engine room through the vents. Be forewarned.

Cell service was good for the big three. There is o shore access or local shopping.

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Anchorage Review for Pungo River G23

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Leave the AICW just before the entrance to the Alligator Pungo Canal at Green "23", turning north into Pungo River and to the anchorage. After leaving the travelway, depths increase to ten feet or more. At the anchorage icon there is 10 feet of water and plenty of protection from all directions except the south. There is plenty of depth further up the river and there are several excellent, well protected spots with plenty of swing room and all around protection. There is some current running down the river but nothing to be concerned about. Five boats were anchored the night that we stayed and there was room for another dozen boats. There is a small beach to take Fido to shore if necessary. Cell phone reception was good for all three major carriers. This is definitely one of the best anchorages we have used on the ICW.

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Anchorage Review for Oriental - Greens Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 11, 2023
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

To get better protection from wind and waves move to the north side of the Oriental Bridge (clearance 45'). Oriental does not have a lunar tide but depths can easily change a foot either way with wind driven water surges. Strong winds from the North and East will add to depths, South and West winds will lower water levels so care should be taken when anchoring. Shallow draft boats have many choices but deeper draft boats will find 6-7 feet of water at the anchorage icon and between Green "1" and Green "3"in the Greens Creek Channel to the west of Teach's Point. 7 foot depths extend a good distance further up Green Creek as well.

The inner harbor provides much better wind and wave protection than the outer harbor. This anchorage has adequate holding in mud. Care should be taken to make sure that anchor is properly set before turning off the engines. The anchor came up covered in mud in the morning. The anchorage is just off the channel but boat traffic is not too bad during the day and falls off to nothing at night. Weekends will have more boat traffic in season. Wave and wind protection is good except when the winds are from the east when it is only fair. As the anchorage is open, heavy weather from the south might make the stay a bit bumpy. There is no current to speak of so you will swing with the wind.

Shore access is at the dinghy dock in the inner harbor right next to the boat launch. The center of town is three blocks away and there are several good restaurants within easy walking distance. The local Piggly Wiggly is well stocked and caters to boaters. They have a courtesy car and will pick you up at the boat launch, take you to the store and bring you back after your shopping. Call 252-249-3100 for service. There is a local West Marine Store as well and a well-stocked hardware store about a mile from the dinghy dock. Cell service is good for ATT, Verizon and T-Mobile

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Anchorage Review for North River - Buck Island (South)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We anchored here on Oct 9, 2022. Leave the channel approximately 0.3 miles south of Green 157 to avoid the shoal water sticking out from Buck Island. Expect 10 feet of water through most of the anchorage in normal conditions. We never saw less than 9.5 feet and we anchored southeast of the anchorage icon in 10 feet of water. There is no lunar tide in Albemarle Sound. Water depths are influenced by persistent winds. South winds will raise the water level, north winds will lower it. We saw one big snag just exposed in the middle of the cove (N36 14.91 W75 56.52) so care should be taken. The anchor set immediately and held well through the night in dense mud. Wind and wave protection is fair except from the south: the anchorage becomes uncomfortable with south winds greater than ten miles per hour. (We had three hours of that in the evening before things settled down.) Be prepared for wakes starting at about 7am from the faster vessels coming down from Coinjock. There is no shore access available in the area, in fact, the anchorage is well clear of any human habitation. With nice weather it is lovely and quiet and away from light pollution. Cellular reception and speeds were very good for the big three with download speeds in excess of 50 mbps.

This is a good fair weather anchorage and acceptable with stronger winds from the north and the east. One warning, however: the area is notorious for midge hatches. We have twice experienced a nighttime swarm of "Fuzzy Bills" while anchoring in the bay. Each infestation required two days for cleanup and we are still finding desiccated corpses in nooks and crannies of the engine room. Perhaps the colder nighttime temperature (50 degrees) helped to keep them away from us this time.

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Anchorage Review for Pungo Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 15, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Going south we exited the AICW at the turn off channel for Belhaven and went directly to the marked entrance to Pungo Creek in no less than 10 feet of water. If you are going north you can leave the channel north of Green "7" and cross the flats to Red "2PC". After rounding the corner the creek widens and carries no less than 9 feet of water the entire 1.5 miles up the creek to the anchorage icon. The entire south shore and half of the north will provide good anchoring and shelter from winds and waves from any direction. Simply choose your spot for the expected winds. We anchored off the northern shore just beyond the Pungo Creek Canal in 10 feet of water with good holding. There is no tide here but water depths will vary as much as much as a foot with strong winds from either the north or the south. There is no noticeable current, we swung with the wind and did not budge during the night. There was little traffic and little road noise from the town.

Shore access is about three miles away by fast dinghy. Take advantage of the Belhaven Town Pier. Cellular service is very good for the three major carriers.

If you are not planning on going into town, Pungo Creek is actually a better anchorage than the town harbor. There is more room and less traffic. The off/on distance from the creek is about a mile longer than from the Belhaven Harbor, but the convenience and comfort of the creek anchorage is much better. We have now anchored in both places and will come back to the creek for overnights in the future.

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Anchorage Review for Alligator River - Tuckahoe Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 13, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Depart the channel at approximately mm 104.2 between Green 49 and Red 52 and turn north towards the anchorage in the charted deep water area for a minimum of 7.5 feet normal water on entry and 11 feet at the anchorage icon. Anchor in 10 to 11 feet of water is soft mud. Care should be taken to ensure good holding if you anticipate higher winds. Good wave and wind protection from all directions except east, where the 4 mile fetch allows the water to kick up. There is room for at least 3 or 4 boats in the main portion of the anchorage. There is more room further up the river as well. There is no current to speak of. Shore access with no facilities is available at the Gum Ridge boat ramp which is about 2 miles further west, off the Alligator River. Cell service was barely adequate for AT&T and poor for Verizon and T-Mobile.

We spent a quiet night with light winds. The anchorage's best feature is that it breaks up the very long day between Belhaven and Coinjock in to two comfortable chunks.

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Free Dock Review for Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 13, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Entering from the South go up the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City, through the bascule bridge in the center of town, Christian University Free Dock will be in front in front of you. If you are southbound, you will have traversed the Dismal Swamp Canal and should slow down once you see the bridge. The dock will be on the right, in front of some of the school's buildings. There is over 20 feet of water on approach and 18 feet at the dock. There is no lunar tide but care should be take tying up to the fixed dock as water levels rise and fall with strong winds from either the north or south. We used our fender boards to keep the boat off the dock pylons. Wind, wake, and wave protection is excellent. There is road noise from the nearby bridge that continues into the evening. There are both slips with short finger piers as well as a 125 foot dock for side ties The dock is in very good condition with potable water available but the free dock has no electricity or pump-out facilities. The University "Guest" Wi-Fi reaches the dock with very good speeds. Cellular connectivity is also very good for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The University has restricted stays to 48 hours, but the price is right.

The normal expectation for a "Free Dock" is quite low but the Christian University has opened its doors to visitors. Dan Smith is the "dockmaster" (336.681.0575) and it is best to give him a call to check on space availability before arriving. He and his people are truly helpful and will provide you an information packet for the city which includes several discount coupons. We found the city to be very interesting with good restaurants, music and art venues, an excellent local museum, and opportunities to just kick back and relax on the swinging benches at the University fire pit which is just off the dock. The school opens its facilities to you as well, including meals at very reasonable prices. Everyone is so welcoming and, even though the dock is technically open to the street, the University provides illumination and security was never a concern to us. This was the best free dock experience we have ever had.

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Free Dock Review for Great Bridge Dock #1 (Chesapeake, VA)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

Free Dock #1 is between Great Bridge Lock and the Bridge. It is on the south side of the ICW and closer to shopping than Chesapeake Free Dock #2. The dock is in good condition but it is nowhere near as nice as the Free Dock #2. There is space for four or five large boats. There are no facilities at #1. A good overnight spot when Free Dock #2 is full. Depth at the dock was 12 feet. Cellular service was excellent for the Big Three.

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Anchorage Review for Lafayette River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Lafayette River Anchorage is an island of quiet in the middle of the most amazing collection of military/commercial/recreational facilities that is Norfolk/Portsmouth. Leave the channel at Green 19, five miles north of ICW Mile 0 and enter the well-marked channel leading back to the Lafayette River with 12 feet MLW of water all the way back to the anchorage. There is 11 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. You will find many of the small boats will take the short cut and go right through the anchorage area. Fortunately traffic dies down at night. Consider the three foot tide when letting out anchor rode. Holding is good in hard packed mud. We had 20+ mph winds overnight and did not budge. Fair wind protection all around and good wave protection from all directions except the southwest. There is room for two or three boats. Very good cell reception for the Big Three. The noise from the container port operations continues into the evening but stops overnight.

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Marina Review for Fishing Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 7, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Located on the south side of Deltaville, you approach Fishing Bay Marina via the Piankatank River entrance. Pay attention to the navigational marks on the twisty approach. Fishing Bay contains the marina and a well protected anchorage that will hold over a dozen boats in 15 to 17 feet MLW. Approach the marina entrance slowly as the fairway requires some maneuvering. The marina is half fixed and half floating docks, all in good condition. We had 7.5 feet of water MLW at our slip. The dock was in excellent condition and power and water were easily accessible on the dock. The dock staff was on hand to help and assisted with all our needs. The marina is nestled up in a pocket with excellent protection from all directions except the south. Although the southern exposure is not open to the bay, there is more fetch from that direction and a good blow from the south might make the marina a bit bouncy.

The marina is actually close to shopping and the courtesy car made resupply a breeze. There are also four courtesy bikes available. The local (large) West Marine store was a mile and a quarter away so we managed to pick up a few items we needed in addition to groceries that were about 2 miles from the dock. Any trip to Deltaville should include a visit to Nauti Nell's Marine Consignment Store. The place is fabulous. The facilities at Fishing Bay Marina were located up from the docks by the swimming pool that, when we were here, was closed for the season. The bathrooms with separate shower stalls were in good shape and clean as was the laundry. The laundry is operated by $2.00 tokens that you purchase at the office. There is also a very nice Captain's Lounge. The marina has very good OnSpot Wi-Fi. Cellular service for all three carriers was also very good.

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Anchorage Review for Corrotoman River - Sandy Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 6, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Travel 4 miles up the Corrotoman River into the east branch at the fork and find as good an anchorage as you could wish for. There is 15 feet MLW minimum on approach and 12 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. The anchorage is protected on all sides with very good holding, wind and wave protection, and minimal current for the 1 foot tide range. Trees on high banks protect you from the wind and the sandy spit that names the anchorage protects you from the one direction that has any fetch to it. The anchor set immediately and held in thick mud. Current was minimal and the few boats that passed were polite and slowed down. The anchorage is actually quite large. Once inside Sandy Point there is enough water and good spots to anchor going upriver for a mile. Select you spot according to the expected winds and enjoy.

Sandy Point is a place to set your anchor and stay for a while. The anchorage is surrounded by higher banks and is treed in almost every direction for better wind protection. This, along with the lack of shore noises, also increases the scenic beauty score for the anchorage. This is a place to come and stay for a while to recharge. Shore access is on Sandy Point, a sand spit where you can walk the dog but do no shopping: There are no stores in the area. Incredibly, in the middle what seems like nowhere, there is very good cell signal for the Big Three. There is oyster aquaculture in the river but none to speak of in the anchorage. Crab pots were noticeably absent but eagles flew overhead. We were not even bothered by bugs. The screen doors to the salon remained stowed for our stay.

Sandy Point is now one of our top ten anchorages.

Follow up: We decided "hunker down" for Hurricane Ian in this anchorage. We moved to the NE corner under a 40 foot bank with mature trees for protection. Maximum winds were estimated to be about 40 mph from the North and East. Under the bank we experienced winds of less than 10 mph with occasional swirls that reached 20 mph. We spent over a week here and did not have a single concern about the anchorage. The anchor did not budge during our stay. Definitely a keeper.

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Anchorage Review for Corrotoman River - Bells Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 29, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Bells Creek is actually a part of the larger lagoon described in the review of Sandy Point. This particular part of the anchorage has excellent wind protection in all directions except for winds from the south, where the protection is only good and you would be better anchoring at the "Sandy Point" anchorage icon. Approach depths are 12 feet MLW and there is 9 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. Approach straight in and aim for the dock at the west bank of the entrance to Bells Creek. Stop about 100 yards off the dock in 9 feet of water. Protection from wind and waves is excellent in all directions except the southeast and then it is only good. Holding in this anchorage is good in thick mud although we did not anchor is this spot. If you are shallow draft you can move up into the creek for even better protection by carefully sounding your way into the anchorage, moving to the east side of the entrance for 5 feet of water MLW at the "No Wake" sign and then back into the middle of the creek as you move in further. We found 5 feet almost all the way to the back of the creek when we scouted in our dinghy. The creek is narrow so you will have to anchor in the center but you will have total protection from wind, waves, and current.

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Anchorage Review for Potomac River - Mason Neck

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Mason Neck Anchorage sits in the middle of the Potomac River and, under many circumstances would be the last place you would want to anchor. With winds from the Southwest around to the North, however, the anchorage provides an excellent wind break and is close enough to shore to provide a calm anchorage in 20+ knot winds.

Leave the Potomac channel at Red "54" and west towards the Virginia shore in no less than 10 feet of water MLW. As you approach shore depth deepens to as much as 15 feet with 14 feet at the anchorage icon. Anchor with good holding in mud, staying clear of the cable crossing area to the south. Current through the anchorage will reach 1 knot and you will swing with the current so make sure you have adequate swing room. There is room for any number of large boats in a line along the shore with plenty of room between boats and everyone will swing in unison with the change of the tide. The anchorage is far enough off the channel that wakes are not an issue but there is some boat traffic through the anchorage as it provides a shortcut for vessels with local knowledge to transit the area.

Mason Neck is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. Shore access is not permitted by the Refuge rules. In order to get to shore you would have to go to the state park in Belmont Bay. We did not bother trying. On the other hand, cellular reception is very good with 4 bars of 5G for ATT and T-Mobile and four bars on our 4G LTE Verizon phone as well. Even with the heavy weather in the afternoon, we spent a quiet and comfortable night before moving on. We were surprised that we did not hear the trains come through at this anchorage. When we stayed five miles down the river they were clearly heard. We will definitely come back here again when the winds warrant it.

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Anchorage Review for Great Wicomico River - Cockrell Creek (Shell Landing)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 27, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Easy in/out when transiting the area. 10 feet MLW on approach and 10 feet at the anchor
icon. There is good holding in mud. No current, and good protection from all directions except the
Northwest, where there is more fetch and the anchorage might get a bit bouncy. It is a short dinghy ride
to "downtown" Reedville. Tie up at one of the dockside restaurants for dinner and spend a bit of time in town. (Reedville Fishermen's Museum). The anchorage has little boat traffic most of the time but as there is a boat launch (Shell Landing) around the corner so there is probably more traffic on weekends. The anchorage is just downstream from Omega Protein, an active fish processing plant with a half dozen active menhaden fishing boats ships leaving before light in the morning and coming back between five and eight in the evening. In addition the small spotting planes will land at the local airport behind the processing plant, flying straight over the anchorage at 100 feet, and will take off early in the morning as well. Very good cellular reception for all three carriers with very fast T-Mobile internet connectivity. The anchorage does not have an "away from it all" feel to it at all, but was a good, well protected overnight stop on our way south. Be aware of the many ruins and old piling obstructions along the shoreline.

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Anchorage Review for South Yeocomico River - Palmer Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 26, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Depths were 11' on approach 10' at anchorage icon Space for four or five boats. Mostly wooded. Only anchorage we have been in with a personal Lighthouse. There is good space, even with the aquaculture present in the cove. Anchor set immediately in silt/mud and held with no problems even with 40 mph winds from the west in the evening. Be mindful of the oyster aquaculture areas marked with white PVC pipe. Cellular reception was adequate for internet coverage but was not that fast. Shore access in the area not available. Krentz Marina does not allow dinghy docking. and there is not much else in the area.

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Anchorage Review for South Yeocomico River - Drum Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report - we did not anchor

Approach depth 10' mlw, 8' mlw at the anchorage icon. Care must be taken when entering the cove because of oyster aquaculture on both sides of the approach. Room for two or three boats. Shore access may be possible around the corner at Krentz Marine but there is not much there.. Did not see many crab pots.

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Anchorage Review for West Yeocomico - Long Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting report - we did not anchor

Approach depth 12', 9' at the anchorage icon. This is a tight anchorage made even tighter by the oyster aquaculture area in front of the western shore of the cove. There is adequate swing room for one large boat at the icon and perhaps another in front of that boat further towards the entrance to the cove. Sandy beach on Seldom Point at the entrance to the cove. The Shelf Marina in Kinsale is around the corner for shore access and minimal shopping.

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Anchorage Review for West Yeocomico River - Great House Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Scouting Report - we did not anchor.

Approach depth 11' mlw, 9' mlw at the anchorage Icon. Perdue feed operation next to the marina, a quarter mile from the anchorage. Possible dinghy landing at The Slips Marina. Anchorage is open all the way to the Bay from the east. Room for four or five larger boats. .

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Anchorage Review for Mattawoman Creek Bight

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter Mattawoman Creek by turning east off the channel near Red "46" and head for Mattawoman Green "1" favoring the southern shore to remain in 9 foot of water MLW as you approach the mark. We anchored fairly close to the southern shore about a quarter mile before Green "1" in 9 feet of water with winds predicted to be light for the night. We spent a comfortable night with good holding and were waked only a couple of times before dawn. There is a tidal current coming down the river and out of the creek so we did swing with the current changes. If there had been any serious concerns with the weather we could have moved back further into the creek entrance towards Green "3" to choose an appropriate anchoring depth. At Green "3" there is 5 to 6 feet of water MLW still favoring the southern shore.

If you use this anchorage, saying out of the creek channel is important for your comfort. Smallwood State Park on the southern shore of Mattawoman Creek is a major launching point for small boats fishing the Potomac. Often small boat traffic from the launch starts at sunrise. On most weekends during the spring, summer, and fall there are tournaments which will launch many bass boats at great speeds in a short period of time early in the morning. Staying out of the creek channel from the launch is actually a matter of safety for all concerned and should be factored into your anchoring decisions. Boats with drafts less than 4 feet might consider going up the creek beyond the marina and anchor at Grinders Wharf or beyond towards Bullitt Neck in 5 to 9 feet of water. Vessels of over 4 foot draft should consider the state of the tide when attempting to get back up in the creek.

Our stay on downstream of Green 1 was comfortable and bug free. We did have to pay attention to crab pots on entering the creek but found a clear area to anchor in. The quiet nights were interrupted regularly by train whistles coming across the river. Cellular internet was good for all three carriers. Shore access is possible at Sweden Point Marina. Be advised that some of the area on the southern shore of the creek and the bight on the northern shore are military installations with no shore access.

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Marina Review for Capital Yacht Club

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Capital Yacht Club is a private club that will accept transients for short stay if a cruising member's slip is open. If you are lucky enough to find an available slip you will be perfectly positioned to enjoy your visit to the nation's Capitol while enjoying the amenities and security of a premier private yacht club.

Enter the Washington Channel between Haines Point and Fort McNair north of Green "11" and continue up the channel approximately 1.5 miles to the marina which is just beyond the Wharf Marina. The docks at both the Wharf and Capital Yacht clubs are well marked. The docks belonging to the Capital Yacht Club are "A", "B", and "C". Slips are also clearly marked. There will be someone from the club on the dock to assist you with line handling. Armani and David assisted us and were helpful, friendly, and professional. Slips are single bay (finger docks on both sides of the slip) so you will have a choice as which side you wish to tie up. Power and water are dedicated to each slip and have no issues. Docks are floating concrete so set your fenders to low level. There is no current flowing through the channel. Depth at the dock is over 20 feet. As you are now guests at a private club you will be given security keys, a list of club rules, and will be granted access to the club amenities. The amenities include immaculate bath/showers, a laundry room with five sets of washer/dryers ($1.75 per wash or dry, coins or credit cards), a wonderful Captain's lounge with cooking facilities, a conference/library room, a full restaurant/bar, bike racks, a workout area, and more. In slip pump outs can be scheduled. Yacht club Wi-Fi is adequate but as you are in downtown DC, cellular reception is excellent. The club is dog friendly. The lovely Southwest Waterfront Park is 4/10ths of a mile south along the promenade.

The Capital Yacht Club sits in the middle of the newly renovated Wharf area of Southwest Washington. Quite literally outside the front gate to the club there is a mile long promenade with shops, restaurants, boutiques, and other stores (more restaurants and shops coming soon in the newer buildings). Grocery and drug stores are a half mile away as is an Enterprise Rent-a-Car location. The National Mall is about a mile and a half walk or, if you prefer, you can take the free District Wharf SW Neighborhood Shuttle (bus stop 350 feet from clubhouse in front of CVS) and the DC Circulator to visit almost all points of interest all the way out to Arlington National Cemetery. Both shuttle bus systems have online tracking. The DC Metro system can be reached by taking the SW Neighborhood Shuttle to L'Enfant Plaza.

As a place to base your stay in Washington DC, you cannot do better than this. We were recognized as guests by the members and felt that we were warmly welcomed at their wonderful club. While $3.00 per foot may seem high, one has to remember that a room at one of the hotels in the area will start at $300 per night.

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Marina Review for Machodoc Creek Marina Inc.

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 19, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Enter the 11 foot deep mlw channel into Upper Machodoc Creek at Potomac Green "29" and follow the well-marked channel back beyond the Dalgren Naval Weapons Center, continuing at on an extension of the channel with no less 7 feet of water up the channel and then into the docks. There is room on the T-Dock for a 70 footer but call ahead on this. At 48 feet we only took up half the dock. Slips are all stern-in with short finger docks for getting off the boat. The dock still in the process of being updated by the new owner but is in reasonable/good shape from the T-Dock all the way in to the shore. Electric and water are new and work as you would expect. Tie off mooring lines to pylons; there are no cleats. We used fender boards and had no issues with the 1.5 foot tide or currents.

Jeff, the owner of the marina since 2017, has done a remarkable job of turning the marina around and is still in the process of improving the facilities. The bath/showers are new and are impressive. The new office/restaurant building is first class. The restaurant is open for extended lunch from Wednesday through Sunday. Dinners are on the menu once the restaurant gets its liquor license. The menu is remarkable. We did not get a chance to try the food but, if you believe half the comments, it is worth a try. The marina sells gas but not diesel. The boat ramp is at the food o the dock. The portable pumpout was not working while we were there.

We were pleased with the responsiveness and concern of the owner and his staff. Coming back on Sunday at 7pm from friends we found the owner completing his evening dock check. Shopping is close by but requires a car. The owner will either drive you or lend you his truck when possible to make sure that you can take care of your needs. We felt secure in leaving the boat for an overnight with friends.


We were pleased with the responsiveness and concern of the owner and his staff. Coming back on Sunday at 7pm from friends we found the owner completing his evening dock check. Shopping is close by but requires a car. The owner will either drive you or lend you his truck when possible to make sure that you can take care of your needs. We felt secure in leaving the boat for an overnight with friends.

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Anchorage Review for Lower Machodoc Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 19, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This is an excellent easy-off overnight stop on the Potomac. We arrived on a lovely Friday afternoon and were surprised at how little traffic there was on the creek. We were also surprised at the lack of crab pots. You need to pay attention on at the creek entrance as it requires a well-marked "jog" as you enter. Approach depths were 16 feet mlw, there was 14 feet at the anchorage icon, and 14 feet over a half mile up the creek from the icon where we finally anchored. There is room for any number of boats in the anchorage. Holding is excellent in sticky mud and wind/wave protection is very good from all directions except the North where it is only good. There is minimal current so you will swing with the wind. We could not believe how quiet the anchorage was and were delighted by the absence of crab pots.

If you have a dinghy the Coles Point Tavern (about 2 miles distant around the point) has a dock and is reputed to have amazing food. Shore access is possible at the small launch in Branson Cove as well as a couple more restaurants. Any sort of shopping will require a car. One thing we found peculiar is that, with houses all along the shore and docks everywhere, there was very little boat traffic on a lovely Friday night and only one early Saturday morning boat leaving to go fishing. Cellular reception for ATT and Verizon was poor at 1-2 bars, T-Mobile was fair at 2-3 bars.

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Marina Review for Port of Salisbury Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 16, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

If you like exploring rivers, the tributary rivers of the Chesapeake are incredibly rich with history, natural beauty, and industry. The Port of Salisbury Marina was simply the excuse to travel the 25 miles up the Wicomico River. At the junction buoy with the Nanticoke River you are in the Chesapeake Bay. As you travel up the river it changes character and transitions to fresh water. At Whitehaven you have to deal with the cable ferry that is the oldest ferry in the USA with operations dating back to 1687. The second cable ferry, ten miles further upstream, Upper Ferry, dates to 1688. Three miles downstream from Salisbury is Pemberton Hall, a pre-revolutionary plantation that dates back to the 1740's.

The Wicomico River channel is well marked and deep. There are commercial operations in Salisbury that use the river for transport. We passed a barge and tow on our way up the river. Be prepared for currents on the trip with speeds of up to 1.5 miles per hour at the height of the ebb or flow. The marina is at the head of navigation with a low clearance bridge precluding further travel upriver. The marina is well laid out and sits in the middle of town. The fixed docks have protruding pylons and, with the four foot tide, careful line placement and fender boards are necessary. We had 12 mlw depth at the T-head. Water and power are in good working order although there are some dock planks that really need to be replaced soon. The staff was responsive to our questions and the marina provides older shower facilities (individual toilet/shower rooms) as well as an excellent (and inexpensive 1 dollar wash/75 cent dryer) laundry room. Courtesy bikes are available. The nearest supermarket and pharmacy are about a mile from the marina. Security is provided with a lock gate separating the docks from the downtown parking lot. Brew River restaurant and dockbar are next door and several other restaurants are within walking distance.. Cellular reception is good for the Big Three. There is a small dog park upriver just beyond the Brew River restaurant. We liked the place so we stayed an extra day.

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Anchorage Review for Honga River - Asquith Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 16, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

You know you are out in the boondocks when you are on the "Honga River", near Hoopersville, and just a hop skip and a jump from "Crapo." (Seriously) The anchorage is far enough away from any urban light source. The night was clear and we had a good view of the Milky Way. What is surprising is that there is any cellular reception at all but there is: just fair for the big three. If you decided to come up Tangier Sound to escape the weather on the main part of the Chesapeake, you will find the northern exit leading back the bay three miles below the anchorage. Between Honga River, Hoopersville, and Lakes Cove you have three anchorages that should take care of most situations while providing a restful night before venturing back to the Big Bay.

Approaching from the south the anchorage slowly shallows, allowing you the opportunity to decide at what depth to stop and drop the anchor. We decided to let go in about 11 feet of water and the anchor immediately grabbed and set for the night in clay. The wind laid down and we had an restful night with a few waterman wakes starting at five in the morning. There is really no wind protection but Asquith Island provides a comfortable break in the waves. There is no shore access. There were no crab pots to deal with in the anchorage.

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Marina Review for Parks Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 14, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Parks Marina occupies a length of the channel that cuts through the middle of the island from east to west. Stern in slips with short fingers are on the west side of the "Parks Marina" building. Coming in when the tide is running will be a challenge as there is a good 1.5 knot current either going east on the rising tide or west on the falling one. Depths for slips close to the office on the west side are less than 5 feet mlw: We found ourselves on the bottom with our 5 foot draft an hour before low tide. We moved on the rising tide to the side tie in front of the office where there are 12 foot depths. The power, water, toilets/showers, and docks are all in good shape but have been well used (and maintained) over the years. The marina feels like an integral part of a working harbor on a working island that is struggling to remain viable. The price is right as well. $30 for boats under 30 feet and $35 for boats over 30 feet with $5 for electricity.

Tangier Island is slowly sinking into the Bay and, at this moment, there is water coming up into several of the roads above mid-tide. The community is clearly oriented towards fishing the bay and the fleet of commercial boats contains really lovely examples of Chesapeake Bay Deadrise fishing boats with their small cabins forward and large working decks for crab traps and other fishing gear. Tourists come on ferries from both Reedville on the mainland and Onancock and Crisfield on the Eastern Shore but tend to be more day trippers. Private vessels end up at Parks. There are four restaurants in town, oriented more towards the lunch crowd but with options for dinner as well. We spent an extra day here and are glad we did. Spend the time and rent a golf car to wander around the island. The place is special. The four star rating is, in part, an endorsement of the island.

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Marina Review for Cape Charles Town Harbor

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 12, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Let's get this out up front: $3.00 a foot for a marina on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a bit excessive. Having said that, we really enjoyed our stay in Cape Charles and would think about coming back again, either by boat or car. The town and beach were very nice and we could have easily spent an extra day exploring.

The marina is well maintained. The docks are clean and in good repair, power pedestals are in good working order, water is available with good pressure, and there were even bumpers on the floating docks, making the need for fenders optional. As the harbor is also an industrial/commercial harbor, it is quite large and has sufficient depth for working boats and barges. Approach depths were over 20 feet and we had 12 foot depth on the T-head that we were docked on. Protection is excellent except with strong winds out of the west. The staff is responsive, the marina is well maintained and the trash had been emptied. The showers have just been redone and are in good order. The marina Wi-Fi was good and there was good to very good Cellular reception for the Big Three.

There is a good restaurant on the dock and a 300 yard path that drops you off in the middle of the four block long "downtown" with restaurants, brew houses, souvenir shops, and a gourmet grocery store. The hardware store, unfortunately, has closed.

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Anchorage Review for Pungo River G23

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 7, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Pungo River G23 anchorage is at the entrance to the Pungo-Alligator River canal. Oriental is 55 miles to the south and Coinjock is 77 miles to the north. It is probably the most strategic stopping point between these two destinations. It is also a lovely anchorage in its own right and a great place to stop for the night or longer. You are 500 yards off the intra-coastal but you are in a different world.

Leave the ICW at Green "23" and head north up the Pungo River to the anchorage icon. Once over the 8 foot depth spoils bank at the side of the channel the depth returns to 10 to 12 to well beyond the anchorage icon. Going further up the river will provide protection from south winds. We chose to anchor in 11 feet of water at the icon to take advantage of the 10 mph southerly breeze for the evening. The anchor set immediately and held with 60 feet of chain laid out. Although we were anchored in the river there was no discernable current to deal with. There was light chop from the southerly breeze but it did not bounce the boat at all. Traffic came by on the ICW but no wakes reached us. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there was no boat traffic passing us on the river.

This anchorage is out in nature. You can only see a couple of houses and the noise from the road is in the distance. There is a small sand beach for pet relief but there really is no other place to go to once on land. Belhaven is the closest shopping and it is about 9 miles away. Cellular internet connectivity is good for T-Mobile an Very Good for ATT and Verizon.

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Free Dock Review for Great Bridge Dock #2 (Chesapeake, VA)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 7, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Dock is in excellent condition. Depth dockside is 11 feet. Stay is marked as being 48 hours. Excellent location with grocery store less than a mile away across the bridge. Great walking paths and a museum thrown in as well. Room for six to eight well tied boats on a 400 foot long dock.

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Anchorage Review for Neuse River - South River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 5, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Entering South River requires a bit of attention to the ATONs and charts. Care must be taken to stay in the middle of the channel between Green "1" and Red "2" as depths shoal on the east side of the channel quickly. Pay attention to the military vessel wreck located behind Green "3" as well. There is no less than 10 feet of water in the entrance. Once in South River the "anchorage" is an area of approximately 2 square miles of 10-12 foot deep water with options for wind protection from any direction except north. Holding is good, there is no current and, by choosing where to anchor, you can minimize chop. There is morning boat traffic from the boat launch at Red "6" but, according to local knowledge, it is not that heavily used. The anchorage will hold any number of boats and is also used by locals as a heavy weather hideout. I am told that several people/businesses anchor out their boats here during hurricanes.

There is a dock at the old, historic cemetery on the eastern shore of the river and you can land at the boat launch but there are no stores or other attractions within walking distance. The eastern shore is close to the boundary on a restricted bombing range located further east so do not be surprised if you are visited by low flying jets and helicopters. Cell coverage is weak but usable for internet on all three networks. It is just slower than usual.

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Anchorage Review for Morehead City - Sugar Loaf Island (south)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jun 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Sugarloaf Island South lies just off the ICW, right next to the shipping dock, and at the exit from all the downtown marinas, bars, and restaurants. A less likely place for an anchorage you would have a hard time imagining. It was Saturday evening in mid-April and our intended stopping point was full up so, after looking at a couple of reviews, we decided to give the anchorage a try. Quite frankly, we were surprised at how good it actually was. Enter from the east end of the island by turning off the entry passage in front of the shipping docks. You will find 10 feet of water MLLW over a large area that, for some reason, has some protection from the wakes from the channel. The anchorage was not calm in the evening with 15 mph winds and wakes coming from the south but it was tolerable. We anchored about 100 yards west of the anchorage icon and, if we were to do this again, we would go another hundred yards further west to tuck in behind shallower protecting water between the anchorage and the ICW. When night fell and the boat traffic tapered off, the anchorage turned comfortable. Holding was good with a strong (3mph+) tidal current running through the anchorage. The anchor came up clean in the morning from the sandy bottom. There is wind and wave protection for the northwest around to the east but the anchorage is open with some fetch from the other points of the compass. Shore access can be had by dinghy at the Sanitary Restaurant dock, about a half mile around the island to the dock in front of the restaurant. You will find yourself in the downtown entertainment area with no provisioning nearby. You can also take your dinghy to Sugarloaf Island to walk Fido. As a fair weather anchorage Sugarloaf provides an easy off and on to the ICW while you make your way either north or south. Cell coverage is very good.

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Nav Alert comment on NC: Swansboro Harbor, Caution

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 16, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We followed Bob423's long track through here and saw nothing less than 13.0 feet depth MLLW.

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Anchorage Review for Mile Hammock Bay

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 16, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Mile Hammock Bay is the perfect halfway stop between Wilmington and Moorhead City. The anchorage is just off the AICW and is protected by land on all sides. No wakes, small waves, no current, and wind protection is fair from the north clockwise around to the south, and adequate on the western side with some protection from the land. Holding is good in chunky mud but there have been instances of dragging on boats with just "adequate" ground tackle. We stayed here in 20+ mph winds from the unprotected east and at least one boat had difficulties getting their anchor to set properly. There is room for a dozen or more 40'+ boats in the anchorage: there were eight with us on this occasion with no problems at all.

Mile Hammock Bay is contained within the United States Marine Corps facilities of Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville and consequently civilians are regarded with suspicion. You really cannot go to shore here and there are times when you really would not want to try because the shore and surrounding area is an active training site for Marine operations. We have been here when they have landed on shore in small boats and once where they practiced insertions and pickups for small groups using two Osprey Rotor Wing aircraft. Practice went on until about 10 pm and was as noisy as it was impressive.

Cell service for was fair to good for the three majors but neither ATT or T-Mobile had 5G reception.

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Marina Review for Carolina Beach Marina and Mooring Field

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 15, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Between Snow's Cut and Wrightsville Beach there is not much joy for the boater just trying to get by. Carolina Beach Municipal Mooring Field offers an island of peace and tranquility in the middle of one of the most congested sections of the AICW. This nine mooring field is one mile south of the AICW just east of Snow's Cut and provides a good staging point for both south and northbound cruisers. The mooring field is set up for larger boats so there is no problem with space. There is no current to speak of in the southern arm that defines Carolina Beach so all boats align themselves appropriately with the wind. Depth is not an issue; we tied up in 14 feet MLLW and, after properly tying ourselves off to the clean (!) mooring pendant, setting a strict anchor alarm and never had a moments worry. Carolina Beach seems to strictly enforce their "No Wake" zone. We never experienced a wake issue during the evening or in the morning. We had 20+ mph winds from the northeast overnight and into the morning so it was a bit bouncy but totally manageable. The dinghy dock on eastern shore at 291 Canal St., just in from the southernmost moorings in the field. The beach is a block away. There is at lone restaurant in the neighborhood. We had excellent cell reception on all three carriers.

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Nav Alert comment on NC: Snows Cut, Intracoastal Mile 298.0, Shoaling

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Shoaling at the northern temporary red which was marked just "172" has progressed to the point where the green mark is just about on top of the Bob423 track. Deviate to the southeast side of the track to stay clear of the shoaling and remain in a minimum of 13 feet of water MLLW.

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Marina Review for St. James Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 14, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

St. James Marina is a good stop to stage for the Cape Fear River going north or Lockwood's Folly and Shallotte Inlet going south. It is a perfect hurricane hole that is protected on all sides. It is reasonably priced, had stable floating docks in great shape and clean facilities for an overnight or a longer stay. Approach and dockside depths are 7 feet MLLW. You are staying in a very large, upscale development's private marina and services are focused on the residents. The staff, however, could not have been more helpful. From the dockhand helping us tie up to the office, to the fuel dock attendant that helped us in the morning with a pump-out, they could not have been nicer. The restaurant and convenience store are still under renovation. The development is large and, without a car, you are really restricted to the marina. As a bad weather shelter you could not ask for more. There is fair to good cellular service for all three majors and OnSpot WiFi is available with easy connectivity and very good speeds.

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Anchorage Review for Waccamaw River Oxbow G29

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 13, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter the oxbow either from the north or south side at G "29" and find 10-12 feet of water running through the anchorage. The oxbow sits right off the AICW and in the evening there is quite a bit of boat traffic but not that much wake in the anchorage. Traffic stops at sundown. There is a 1 mph tidal current that runs through the anchorage and the boat changed direction with the tide but our chain never stretched out in the new direction. We did tie on a trip line to the anchor based on reported anchor snag problems in the past but the anchor came up easy in the morning. Wind and wave protection was very good and the five 35-50 foot boats in the anchorage all had sufficient swing room. Shore access is available at Enterprise Landing, 0.75 miles north of the anchorage where there is a dock, ramp, and parking area but not much else. Cell coverage for all carriers was fair to good.

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Anchorage Review for South Santee River–West

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 12, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Leave the AICW halfway between R 22 and R 24 and turn north into the South Santee River in 12 feet of water MLLW and proceed north to the anchorage, favoring the east side of the river slightly for best depth. We anchored 0.3 miles off the AICW in 10 feet of water MLLW. The anchor set immediately and held well through the night. We set scope to include the known 4 foot tide and 2 mph current. The anchor came up with thick mud on the last bit of chain and the anchor. Wind protection is poor but there is little fetch so there were no waves to speak of. Winds were from the west at 15 mph and the boat lay between the tidal current and the wind, giving us good ventilation through the boat. There were no crab pots in the area to worry about and room for 10+ 40 foot boats. The river width is sufficient to anchor up to and even beyond the icon.

Perhaps it was because it was a Monday, but there was no boat traffic at all during our stay. There was no place to go to shore in the vicinity and the reports of alligators (we saw two large ones) meant that Fido was happy to stay on board. Cell reception was only fair for the three majors but, considering that the anchorage is really in the middle of nowhere, it was understandable. Definitely a good anchorage for transient boats.

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Anchorage Review for Stono River - Buzzards Roost Point

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 11, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This anchorage is the best (and cheapest) place to stage for Elliott's Cut. Just up the Stono River from St. John's Yacht Harbor Marina and one mile from the entrance to the Cut, the anchorage offers good protection from wind and waves from all directions except the Northeast and the South where there is sufficient fetch to create some bounce. The best anchoring depths are occupied by an army of crab pots so be prepared to anchor in 16 feet or more mlw with a six foot tide to add to your anchor scope calculations. We ended up anchoring in 23 foot of water and let out 120 feet of chain. The anchor held immediately and did not budge during our stay with west winds to 15 mph and a strong reversing tidal current tugging at the anchor. In the morning the chain came up clean and the anchor had a large amount of clay to be washed off. There are some big boats transiting the Stono River and there were several who seemed oblivious of the No Wake Zone. As usual, darkness solved the problem and we spent a comfortable night with mild winds continuing from the west. Tidal current depends on where you are anchored: the further away you get from the protection of the inside corner, the stronger the tide becomes. We experienced currents of about 2 mph which kept the boat aligned properly. Shore access is not obvious. We did not try to go ashore and did not ask the St. Johns Yacht Harbor Marina if we could land our dinghy. Cellular reception was fair for T-Mobile and good for ATT and Verizon.

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Marina Review for Dataw Island Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 10, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Exit the ICW to the south 1.3 miles east of Green "189" on the Coosaw River paying attention to the narrow water in the Parrot Creek and the missing Green "3". Turn west in Morgan Creek and find the marina on the south shore of the river approximately 2 miles upstream. In truth, we came to this marina for the best fuel prices in the area but, on arrival, found that the marina had just received a new supply of diesel, and had adjusted its prices to fit the current reality. The price was not bad but the anticipated fill-up became a normal cruising load in hopes of finding better as we moved north.

The fuel price disappointment was quickly forgotten as we found ourselves welcomed by three Dataw Marina people to help us into the gas dock in the face of the 20 mph breeze. They remained to assist us in getting off the dock after fueling and helping us tie up to the dock in our transient space (12 ft depth mlw). They could not have been nicer. The floating docks were in excellent condition as were the power pylons and water supply. Clean bathrooms, showers, laundry with free (!) dryer and a small store made this a perfect stop to stage for Charleston. Tie up is on a face dock on the river facing east/west so we had some bumps from the west wind during the evening but nothing serious. We had an excellent dinner at Morgan River Grill, located 200 yards from the boat and spent a quiet night on a well-lit dock with no concerns about security. As we were preparing to leave two dockhands appeared to help us push off. We did not have a chance to enjoy all that the marina had to offer so we will find a reason to come back and spend a day or two relaxing.

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Anchorage Review for Port Royal

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 9, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Leave the AICW at Green "41" and continue up the marked channel past the Port Royal Docks and past the commercial docks and mooring field to anchor at the bend in water between 10 and 15 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. Be prepared for the six foot tidal range in the anchorage but you will not experience any current of concern. Holding in a clay/mud mix is excellent with very good wave and good wind protection in all directions except East to SE where the wind comes directly up the channel. Be sure to leave enough room towards the northern shore as the water shoals there quickly. There is room for four or five 40' boats in the anchorage before you get into deeper water. As the anchorage is at the end of the bay there is very little passing boat traffic. We spent a comfortable night with 20-30 mph winds from west.

The Fishcamp on 11th St Restaurant is about a third of a mile back down the channel on the north side and has a dinghy dock for your dining convenience. There is also a brewery near the docks. Shore access is at the Port Royal Boat Landing a mile down the river with a beach right next to the landing. Cellular reception is very good for the three major carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Herb River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn south into Herb River at AICW Mile Marker 584.2 and Green "37" in 18 feet of water mlw and proceed up towards the inhabited area, anchoring in 15 feet mlw at least 150 feet short of the personal docks as required by Georgia State Law. Holding was excellent and the anchor came up clean in the morning. Remember that there is a 7 foot tidal range here so provide sufficient scope for high water and to ensure holding in the 2 mph current that runs through this anchorage. You will swing north and south with the tide. There is very little traffic on the river in the evening and none at night. Be mindful of the crab pot locations when selecting where to drop your hook as they do not move with the tide. Good wind protection. Excellent cell service. No immediate shore access but there are two marinas just across the AICW that might be let you use their facilities.

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Anchorage Review for Crescent River R156

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The Crescent River Anchorage is an easy off from the AICW at Mile Marker 642.8 by simply turning north into the Crescent River. The river, all the way up to the Cedar Creek turn off is an excellent anchorage for 5 to 8 40'+ boats anchored in a line up the river in 15' mlw depths with plenty of swing room for the change in orientation due to tides of up to 7 feet. Holding is very good in sandy mud with good wind and wave protection. Wakes will show up early in the morning as boats move out of the commercial docks but the boats that passed us were moving slowly with minimal issues. The tidal movement will be the controlling force in your anchor orientation. There is shore access on the southern side of the AICW for Fido but no onshore attractions for boaters. Cellular reception is fair to good for the majors. We spent an easy night at anchor here even though there was a midnight passage of a set of thunderstorms that contained 40 mph wind gusts. Definitely a good anchorage if you pay attention to anchor scope.

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Anchorage Review for Nassau Sound Island - Nassau Sound

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 5, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter the anchorage by turning east from the AICW 150 yards south of Red 48 and strongly favoring the south shore of the entrance to avoid the severe shoaling off the northern shore. Enter with no less than 7' mlw at the entrance deepening to 10 – 12 feet mlw as you proceed towards the boat launch. Do not go beyond the boat launch as the water shoals rapidly. Anchor in the strong reversing tidal current with sufficient scope to hold as you swing. Your boat will orient itself to the tidal flow. Holding is good in sand. Wake protection depends on how nice the small craft from the boat launch are. Wave protection is good but you will get winds over the marsh. Shore access and trash disposal is at the boat launch and there is plenty of beach to walk. Good cellular reception for all carriers. One of the better anchorages between Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville.

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Anchorage Review for Fort Matanzas G81A

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 5, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

There is shoaling at the entrance to the Fort Matanzas Inlet off the AICW at mile marker 793.2. Although it is well buoyed and the USACE scan is up to date, care should be taken to stay in the AICW channel until you arrive at Red "80A" where you will make a sharp turn east into the inlet, favoring the north shore of the channel. Anchor in 12' of water on the south side of the channel before you get to the Fort Matanzas Park landing. If continuing on make sure you favor the north shore as there is shoaling on the south shore starting at the Fort Matanzas Park landing and continuing on past the Park Center.Depths return to the south side and you can anchor in 8' of water just off the Rattlesnake Island beach.

There is a solid 2+ mile an hour current that runs through this anchorage so make sure you have sufficient scope on your anchor to ensure holding with the tidal swing that will come during the night. A good anchor alarm is your best friend. Having said this, there is no question about how you will lay during the night: You will be in line with the current as will everyone else.

Fort Matanzas is a National Park and tours of the Spanish fort start at the Park headquarters on the northern bank of the river where there is an interesting visitor's center worth seeing. The National Park Ferry is back running again after repairs. At low tide take your dinghy out towards the inlet and beach on Rattlesnake Island or a neat tidal island exposed at low tide in the middle of the channel so your dog can run free.

We chose to anchor north of the Fort Matanzas Park landing dock in 12' of water mlw with excellent holding but in the area outside of the no wake zone. Wake issues slowed as the sun went down and we spent a restful night with good holding. This is the fourth time we have stopped here and we love it.

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Marina Review for New Smyrna Beach City Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 3, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Just off the AICW at mm 846.3, the New Smyrna Beach City Marina exemplifies a basic five star marina. It has no luxury amenities like hot tubs and Captains Lounges, but it definitely has all the things that you would want for a short or extended stay. The marina is well maintained, clean, and everything works as it should and is in good repair. There is OnSpot WiFi with good connectivity and speed, in slip pump out that worked but was slow, good power pylons with 30 and 50 amp service, and floating docks for all transient berths. The restrooms/showers are clean and the laundry area is adequate for all needs. Best of all, everyone at the marina was friendly and helpful. The only negative is the music from the restaurant across the fairway that continues until 10pm. You do need to pay attention when you enter the marina as the channel is tighter than it looks. Favor the restaurant on the south shore rather than the island to the north when entering and leaving.

The marina's location could not be better. It is located across the street from the ruins of an old fort and is three blocks away from the old downtown with many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. In addition the Volusia County Bus terminal is across the street which gives you access to stores beyond walking distance including several grocery stores, a Home Depot and a Tractor Supply, as well as many other stores. Unlike most bus systems, this one operates more personally, scheduling store timed pickups. We used this to resupply and it made the process simpler and less expensive that it would be with Uber. This is the fourth time we have stayed in this marina and it has never disappointed.

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Anchorage Review for Banana River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 2, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Just north of the Eau Gallie Causeway Bridge (mm 914.2) turn sharply to the east and go 0.9 nm heading 70? magnetic to Green 1 at the entrance to Banana River. Care should be taken to stay away from the shoal just south of the buoy. Turn north in the river passing the Dragon Point anchorage and Telemar Bay Marina to the Mathers Swing Bridge (vhf ch 9 opens on request 0600 to 2200 hrs). After passing through the bridge proceed up the east side of the river 0.2 miles to the area just beyond the docks and in front of a set of condominiums. Anchor off the condos in 9-10' mlw with good holding in sand, good wave, and good wake protection (no wake zone.) We waited out 30 mph winds for two days and were comfortable on the boat although the wind from the south came right up the river. The anchor did not drag and we did not bounce. Shore access can be had by turning in to the channel at the south side of the marina and following it all the way back to the Oars and Paddles Park dock. The park houses an Olympic canoe and kayak training center and several rowing clubs and is near the main road with restaurants and a Publix supermarket a half mile to the south and an ACE Hardware store .3 miles to the north on S. Patrick Drive. Cell coverage is very good for all three major carriers.

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Anchorage Review for Hole in the Wall Island R112

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Apr 2, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

At Red 112 turn off the AICW heading 340? magnetic for approximately 0.3 miles in 10' mlw to the anchorage icon and anchor in 10' mlw with excellent wind, wake and wave protection from the NW around to the SE with fair to good protection from the south back around to the west. Despite the small tidal range there is sufficient flow through the anchorage to swing your boat. While you can hear the boats going by on the AICW, they are partially blocked by one of the islands. There is minimal boat traffic through the anchorage during the day and it dies off completely in the evening. There are several small beaches on the islands that you can dinghy to with Fido but there is no shore access for supplies or restaurants here. The anchorage is actually a lot larger than it looks as the 10' water extends north up the back side of Pine Island, allowing more than 10 40+' boats to anchor in a line. The anchorage is very scenic and very pleasant. There is very good cell phone service for the big three. A great overnight spot with easy off and easy on as well as a good place to wait out bad weather. We have done both and will be back.

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Anchorage Review for Causeway Island R4

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 29, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Just north of Red "188" turn east into the marked channel on the south side of Causeway Island and continue beyond the position of Red "4" (which was not present) to anchor in a pocket of 8 – 10 water mlw. We have stayed at Causeway Island R4 before and had a good night. From past experience be aware that, at the back of the pocket, depth decreases very fast so make sure that you have enough room to the south when you drop your anchor. There was an anchored sailboat at the mouth of the pocket so we simply moved 200 yards east and dropped anchor in 20 feet of water with plenty of swing room in all directions and well clear of the easts/west travel way and the shallow water to the south. The anchorage "R4" actually connects with the Island Causeway Anchorage "G9" further east to make a single anchorage that provides room for eight to ten 40+ ' boats with adequate swing room for all. Holding was excellent on 100+ feet of chain. There is a moderate tidal current that runs through the area so be prepared to swing. Holding was good and the anchor came up with no mud or sand but with the chain covered in filamented seaweed that took a while to clean off. Wake protection is good but every once and a while a boat will come through at speed to annoy those anchored. Wind and wave protection is excellent for north winds, good for winds from the east or west, and fair from the south as the fetch is long. I would not consider the anchorage with 20+ mph winds from this direction. Cell signal was good for the big three. Shore access is possible at the Causeway Cove Marina or across the ICW at the Fort Pierce City Marina where there are several restaurants and grocery stores within walking distance.

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Marina Review for Sailfish Marina of Stuart

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 28, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Located at the mouth of Manatee Pocket, less than one mile up the St. Lucie River from the intersection with the AICW Sailfish Marina is an excellent example of what a marina should be. It is convenient, has good depth on approach and at the dock, has two fuel docks, a deli, clean showers and bathrooms, a laundry, OnSpot internet that works, good lighting at night and power pedestals that are clean and simple to operate. The staff could not be any nicer. The only thing odd is that pump out is handled by a free Martin County service that you have to phone and make reservations for so this one thing might be a problem if your stay is short.

Going ashore is also a pleasure although you may become friends with your Uber driver as nothing is right next to the marinas. There are three grocery stores within two miles. There are more restaurants than you can eat in during your stay. The one that we went to, District, was first class!

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Anchorage Review for Palm Beach North

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 26, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Coming from the South exit the channel heading NE 200 yards after passing the Flagler Memorial bridge and head towards shore staying in a cut in the spoils bank with no less than 10' mlw. As you approach shore you will find deeper water with depths up to 15'. Turn south and head back towards the bridge until you reach appropriate anchoring depth. From the north turn east 0.1 miles south of Red "8" and head towards shore through a cut in the spoils bank towards deeper water close to shore and then turn south in 15' mlw towards the anchorage. A good depth contour chart will help. There is 14' mlw at the anchorage icon with good wind and wave protection from the Northeast around to the West. Protection from the West through North is only fair. There is a tidal current running through the anchorage so be prepared to swing. The most protected spot is at the anchorage icon but there is plenty of space going north with good holding in sand along the east edge of the spoils bank going north up the river for one half mile. The further north you go the less protected the anchorage becomes but the less noise you will get from bridge traffic. There were six boats in this area overnight and, although we had a wind shift from South to Northwest during the night, we were still comfortable at anchor and not bothered by wakes from passing boats. Cell service was excellent for the big three. Shore access is at the Palm Beach Municipal Marina a third of a mile southwest. We anchored during the Palm Beach In-water Boat Show so this area was filled with show boats and inaccessible. It is reported that, outside of the show, this is an excellent point for going to shore for provisioning and dining. This was actually one of the better choices for anchorage in downtown Palm Beach and was not overcrowded. I will definitely come back to this as an in transit anchorage when needed.

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Anchorage Review for Lake Santa Barbara

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter Lake Santa Barbara in the middle of the opening on the West side of the ICW and proceed down the southern side of the lake towards the back of the cove in 10' mlw and peel off towards the north shore to find anchoring at an appropriate depth. There is a shallower spot in the middle of the lake with 7' depths mlw but the water deepens to 10' towards the island at the back of the lake. Good holding in sand and shells with excellent wind and wave protection as you move further away from the ICW towards the back of the lake. There is a very definite current that will move your boat with tide as water moves back into the maze of creeks and canals that define the western side of Pompano Beach. There is a surprising amount of boat traffic coming through but, looking at a satellite view of the area you will quickly realize that there is a very large boating community up the creeks and canals. The boat traffic was quite civil during the day and the anchorage quiets down quickly at night. Marine Max is located at the back of the lake. Lake Santa Barbara Park is located on the NW corner of the lake and, although there is not dinghy dock, it has been reported that shore access is possible there. Once ashore you are one block from US 1 and all that Downtown Pompano Beach has to offer. Cell coverage is excellent. There is comfortable room for five or six 40+' boats in the anchorage. This is definitely an excellent overnight stop and is also well protected for hunkering down in bad weather.

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Anchorage Review for Marine Stadium

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 24, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

You either love the Miami Marine Stadium or you hate it, or both. Crowded and noisy but well protected with good holding. Shore access is possible but you are landing your dinghy next to the highway. You are in downtown Miami while sitting out on you back deck watching the Million Dollar Miami Skyline. I would not want to spend a week here but we love spending the night, knowing we will be far away the following day. We were there mid-week so the music actually stopped early. We had a good night's rest. One thing that we did remark on was the presence of four LE boats from different jurisdictions patrolling the area. Cell coverage was excellent. Nothing in our experience would keep us from coming back the next time through.

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Anchorage Review for Barnes Sound (Northeast)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 22, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

After coming through a very busy Blackwater Sound and passing Gilberts Resort on our way to the anchorage we did not know what to expect when we came out of the connecting creek and entered Barnes Sound. We were pleased to discovered an undeveloped nature preserve with tree-lined shores and virtually no traffic except a few boats passing through. We left the channel mid lake and headed NE in 10 feet of water to the NE corner of the bay finding 10 feet of water at the anchorage icon. We anchored about a mile SE of the icon, still in 10 feet of water with excellent holding in a sandy mud with a lot of seagrass on the bottom, good wind and wave protection for winds from the North to the Southeast. There was no current but we had all the swing room that we needed. We spent an extra day waiting out 20-30 mph winds in comfort. There was no boat traffic to speak of anywhere near our location. Our closest neighbor was a visiting manatee. Cell reception was good to very good for the big three carriers. There was no shore access but we were content to rest on the boat and do chores while we waited. We anchored far enough from shore that there was no bug problem at all. We would definitely plan on using this anchorage again.

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Anchorage Review for Boot Key Outside - Marathon

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Boot Key Outside Anchorage is on the "Outside" of the Seven Mile Bridge that connects Marathon Key to the outer keys and Key West. Approaching from the north you can take either the Seven Mile Bridge South over Moser Passage or, approaching for the east with a clearance of less than 19 feet, you can take the more direct Knight Key Channel Bridge (mm 1194) to more directly access the anchorage field. Coming from the straights, it is a simple turn to the north for a mile to enter the anchorage. Depths through the anchorage are from 9 to 12 feet with good holding in sand. There is a tidal current that runs through the anchorage with as much as a 1 mph current so expect to swing with the current and make sure that all the boats around you are anchored on one anchor and are expecting to do the same. Depending on the wind speed and direction you can expect the anchorage to have a bit of bounce to it. Things calmed down after dark but started up again early in the morning as the boats left Marathon for deep sea fishing. This was not the secluded anchorage you had in your dreams but it was not intolerable either. We went to bed early and were prepared to be woken at first light by Sport Fisherman. Shore access has been discussed in other reviews and we can add nothing as we did not even try to go ashore during our overnight stay Cell reception was very good for ATT 5G, and fair to good for Verizon and T-Mobile. We were there on a Saturday Night and there was diverse music options playing from shore and passing boat. Would we stay here again? Definitely, "yes." The anchorage offers a certainty of space availability and a reasonable assumption of an acceptable, if not perfect, overnight stay as you work your way through the Keys.

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Anchorage Review for Indian Key - Russell Pass

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Strategically located about half way between the Caloosahatchee River Entrance (Mile Marker 0 on the Florida GICW and the Keys, this is an excellent stopping point for those who just want to get to the Keys. Russel Pass is just before Green "7" and about a mile up for R "4" at the entrance to the channel. In all but Southwest winds, you can anchor to the north of the channel between R '4" and R "6" in 10+ feet of water MLW to the north of the channel. For those of us who happen on the anchorage when the waves are rolling in, move off the channel to the north just before Green "7" mid channel with a minimum of 8 feet of water MLW on the bar, opening up to a large anchorage with at a minimum, 10 feet of depth MLW with plenty of space for at least six to eight 40 foot vessels. The pass still has a significant current and be prepared to swing with the four foot tide that runs through the anchorage. There is no immediate shore access possible but there are exposed areas at low tide 1.5 miles back towards to Gulf to walk the pup. Also, if you are going to spend some time, it is a 4 mile dinghy ride up the Chocolosskee to Everglades City for a walk around an a lunch. 5 G cell coverage is good for ATT and T-Mobile and Verizon signal (we have not upgraded to 5-G) is good also.

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Anchorage Review for Fisherman Key

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter from the southeast, heading north in no less than 9' mlw at the bar. If coming from the north, respect the tail off the south end of Kitchel Key as it extends out a good 300 yards from land going to the south. Run up to the charted deeper water in no less than 10' of water MLW to the anchorage icon and beyond for. We anchored in 13' of water MLW about 0.2 miles north of the anchorage icon with good swing room and good surprisingly good protection from ICW wakes and waves. This is a tidal anchorage and there is a 2 mph+ current running through the anchorage when the tide is in full flow. Be prepared to swing with the tide. Excellent holding in sand: once set the anchor did not budge with the changing tide. We set the anchor and it did not budge although we swung with the tide. The anchor came up with no mud but it took us 15 minutes to get rid of the vegetation that had attached itself to the chain in the current. It looks like you can enter the anchorage from the north between Green "3" and Red "2" in a charted six feet of water MLW, but we did not try this. Anchorage is open on the NW/SE axis but is well protected from other wind directions. Fair cell service on ATT, good service on Verizon and T-Mobile. No shore access and there is a mangrove smell at low tide if the winds are from the right direction. An excellent jump off spot going south to the keys. Indian Key, at the channel to Everglades City, is about 75 miles to the south.

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Nav Alert comment on Caution - areas of shallow water ahead

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Steamboat Channel is still shallow. When we traversed the area at Hight Tide we found several areas where the recorded depth was 5.8 - 5.9 feet. The only positive is that all depth changes were incremental so you will know in advance as depths are changing. Red "90" through Green "73" is the shallowest that we saw transiting from Channel 7 Bridge through to Biscayne Bay.

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Anchorage Review for Carrabelle

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 13, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

While the charted depths for this anchorage look like five feet we saw two smaller sailboats on bottom and heeled over at low tide. There is deeper water just off the western shore that goes from the bridge through the anchorage and joins back with the channel south of Green 9 but it is used by many of the local boats as a thru channel. There is somewhat deeper water between Green 17 and Green 19 but care must be taken to be out of the channel. There is a strong current that runs through the anchorage and you will swing with the tide. Not recommended for larger deeper draft boats. Shore access at C-Quarters and a grocery and hardware store within easy walking distance.

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Anchorage Review for Blue Heron Cove

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 10, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

At Green 35 turn east off the GIWW and come directly into the cove in no less than 10' MLW. Circle to the north to find no less than 9' MLW of water to anchor with good holding in mud with good wind protections from all directions. You are anchored in front of private homes so be considerate and stay a respectful distance from shore and refrain from loud music. (There is enough of that coming from some of the boats on the GIWW.) Properly planned there is room for two 40' boats in this pocket. The anchorage is in a No Wake Zone on the waterway so, in theory, there should be no issue with wakes. We experienced one minor incident in the afternoon but nothing after that. Boat traffic dies off after dark and we spent a quiet night. On deck in the evening we could hear the waves breaking on the beach at Don Diego Park.

The anchorage is right across the waterway from the dinghy access to Don Pedro State Park Beach. Go south 200 yards from G35 and turn west into the dinghy channel that takes you to the day dock for the beach. Depth in channel is reported to be 2.5'. Dogs are allowed in the park but not on the beach. We could not find a convenient public landing on the shore side for access to shops. Cell service was adequate with ATT having 1 bar 5G, T-Mobile 3 bars 5G, and Verizon having 2 bars service.

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Marina Review for City of Tarpon Springs Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Tucked up in the far corner of the Anclote River right in Downtown Tourist Tarpon Springs on Dodecanese Boulevard is the very small but very nice and very convenient Tarpon Springs City Marina. With new floating docks, excellent power and water, and a very nice boater's shower restroom, the marina offers immediate access to the attractions and dining pleasures that make up the tourist area of this historic Greek sponge diving town. With a history that dates back to the beginning of the sponge diving business before 1890 the town celebrates and maintains its cultural and economic roots while appealing to the visiting public with shops, museums, restaurants and more.

While not full service, the City Marina supplies the necessary comforts and provides an excellent platform for visiting the town and the area. Other reviews have detailed the marina and services quite well. All that I can add is to make sure that, on coming up the river you stay close to the boats on the south shore. There is a wicked shoal that extends out far beyond the warning signs.

The City Marina is five plus miles up the river and, if you are in transit, there are several marinas and good anchorages that are much closer to the GICW that will save you a couple of hours of very slow travel that it takes to get all the way up the channel. If you are planning on Tarpon Springs as a destination you cannot do any better than the City Marina. The 'Jolly Trolley' stops in front of the marina and will take you into town, down to the market or even all the way down to Clearwater for an all-day ride ticket price of $5.00 ($2.50 for seniors.) We went to the Dunedin Farmers Market (every Saturday morning) and had an excellent lunch across the street at the Dunedin Smokehouse with some excellent local bears to complement the food. Go to Limani's "Take Out" for outstanding souvlaki, gyros, and salads. You must have the Greek Fries. We spent three days and still had more that we wanted to see. Make sure that you get reservations as early as you can as there are only a few transient slips and they fill up fast. WiFi "worked" most of the time but was not great. Cell reception was excellent for the big three.

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Anchorage Review for Treasure Island Northwest of G17

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn west off the GIWW at mm 119.5, approximately 200 yards north of Green 17 and head 250 degrees magnetic parallel to the north shore of Isle of Palms approximately 150 yards off the ends of the canal points towards the anchorage icon on a heading of 250? magnetic. There is more water than the charts indicate. On leaving the GIWW you will pass over a hump with no less than 7' MLW and then move into anchoring waters with 10-12' MLW depths all the way to the anchorage icon and beyond to the far corner of the bay where protection is better but there is more daytime boat traffic. Great holding in mud with no current but plenty of swing room for over 10 50' boats in a line with ample individual swing room.

There is moderate boat traffic through the anchorage during the day, but it quickly drops off after dark. Road noise from the causeway is present but not loud enough to interfere with normal conversations unless an emergency vehicle comes by with lights and siren. There is no current in the anchorage but there is plenty of swing room. Local shore access is not possible. We moved up into the far corner, well beyond the anchorage icon and found 11' of water and excellent wind protection from the southerly winds. Wind protection from the NE to the SE is poor but is good to excellent from all other points. Definitely a good place to stage for an early trip across Tampa Bay. Cellular service is excellent for the Big Three.

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Marina Review for Apalachicola Marina, Inc.

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 2, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Enter dock channel from G/R 1 buoy and approach with no less than 9 feet of water mlw. If coming downriver make sure to extend all the way to the green and red preferred channel mark to avoid shallow water. Dock newly constructed dock is a fixed face dock with exposed pylons so plan your fender gear accordingly and account for the tidal variation of about 1.5 feet. There is 8 feet of water at the dock and room for three 40 – 50 foot boats. 30 and 50 amp power is available as is water but there are no other amenities available, not even an office. What you get is a spot in the middle of historic Apalachicola with shops, restaurants, and pubs all within three blocks of your boat. We were here mid-week and the town was quiet but we can imagine that, on good weekends, the area will be crowded and the noise level will be higher. Definitely worth a day off to walk around and definitely worth an extra night to sample some of the food, including the raw bars serving local oysters. We give the marina an extra star for location in a lovely place. Cell phone reception is very good for ATT and Verizon and fair for T-Mobile.

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Anchorage Review for Watson Bayou

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Mar 2, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turning north of the GICW at Green 25 leads you to a narrow opening into Watson Bayou with a minimum depth of 15' mlw. Stay in the center of the channel and there will be plenty of water. You can continue all the way up to the anchorage icon just before the bridge for all around protection or hop off to the west after the entrance into the first cove for a quick overnight stop. We anchored in 15' feet of water off the north shore of the first cove (Lake Van Vac) with plenty of swing room, excellent holding and good cell phone reception. Shore access was not available and there was the paper mill and boatyard facing us on the opposite shore. We had very good wind protection from all directions except the east and no wake to disturb us. There is commercial traffic on the bayou. We had a one barge tow pass us early in morning so keep out of the main channel. Background industrial and train noises were definitely noticeable and continued through the night. The 7AM shift change whistle will keep you from sleeping in. If you are staging for a day run to Apalachicola, this is a good, well protected stopping point for a reasonable following day's run. If you are planning on staying longer you might want to go further up the bayou or look for another place further up the channel away from the paper mill to relax.

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Anchorage Review for Toms Bayou - Valparaiso

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 28, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

About a three mile detour off the GIWW, Boggy Bayou Valparaiso is an excellent overnight anchorage as well as a good hunker down hole for protracted periods of bad weather. Enter from main channel aimed at the fishing pier on the northwest shore and move towards the west end of the beach to drop your anchor in 14 feet of water with excellent holding in sand and black bayou mud. There is excellent protection from wind and waves from all but winds from the east. Boat traffic is present, but not intolerable. Good to very good cell phone reception from the big three including good 5G. Shore access at the beach next to the fishing pier or at Lincoln Park, a half mile up the river on the western shore. This anchorage is an excellent relief to those who favor quiet.

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Bridge comment on Navarre Beach Causeway (CR 399) Bridge

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 27, 2022
LOA: 48'

Clearance on this bridge is listed at 50 feet MLW. Reports are that it is less than that. It was impossible to verify as there were no clearance boards on this bridge at either end. Care should be taken if attempting to pass near maximum clearance. There is no real time confirmation available at the bridge.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Waterway Guide will research.

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Anchorage Review for Fort McRee

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 27, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Absolutely fabulous anchorage! Approach from the west by deviating south off the GICW to head straight into the opening south of Robertson Island. If coming from the east make sure to go about 300 yards past the end of the island before turning south towards the entrance as the tail of Robertson island extends quite some distance. Enter between the two "No Wake" signs in no less than 12' of water MLW. There are clearly visible shoals off northern and southern entrance points. Do not try to enter from the east as the entrance has shoaled in. Anchorage has a minimum depth of 10' MLW with room for at least 10 40' boats with ample swing room for all. Anchorage is busy on weekends but is large enough that whatever noises are there are muted. Possible wakes from small craft until dark but anchorage quiets down very quickly. Excellent protection from all directions except the west here protection is only good. Any number of excellent sandy beach stretches on the north and south sides and, at low tide, to the east. Good to very good cellular reception for the big three including 5G. Excellent holding in sand. Definitely a first choice anchorage immediately off the GIWW.

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Bridge comment on US 84 (Jim Folsom) Highway Bridge

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 11, 2022
LOA: 48'

Per USACE the center span of this bridge (for navigation) is 93.1 feet.

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Anchorage Review for River Oaks

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter RDB from downstream and turn back into channel avoiding the shallow bar off the tail of the island for fifteen feet of water at the entrance and 14 feet of water at the anchorage icon with excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes. The anchorage goes up much further and there is room for three to five boats minimum in a line center channel with good swing room for all. Bank has several houses and there is a boat launch further up the channel so there is some boat traffic but nothing terrible. Boat launch will give you shore access for pets but there is no shopping or restaurants of any kind in the area. Fair Verizon coverage, 2 bars for ATT and good T-Mobile 5G.

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Anchorage Review for Town Creek Cutoff North

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 8, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter channel from the north mid channel aimed straight down the cutoff for 16 feet at entrance and deepening to 20 plus feet as you move into channel. Keep visible snags on your starboard on entering with plenty of water. Move into the cutoff 0.3 miles for 13 feet of water mid channel with plenty of swing room for six or more boats in a line. Excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes except less for winds running NE/SW along the cutoff. Shore access at Barton Ferry boat landing .2 miles to the north. Cellular reception poor for ATT and Verizon. 1 bar for T-Mobile 5G.

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Free Dock Review for Mobile Convention Center

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 7, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

There is free daytime 12 hour dock on the river wall at the north (upriver) end of the Mobile Convention Center at N30.69290, W88.03745. What is offered is a wall and cleats to tie off on and not much else. Depth is no problem but wakes can be an issue so proper fender size and placement is important. The river has a two foot tidal range so adjust your lines accordingly. Docking is on a first come, first served basis. Call Convention Center Security to let them know that you are there at 251-208-3165.

Downtown historic Mobile is a quarter mile walk and offers many attractions and many restaurants. It is worth the walk. For those who want to stay and take advantage of what the town has to offer there is a pay option that will allow you to stay for 48 hours. Again, everything is first come, first serve. Apply online at https://www.asmglobalmobile.com/mobile-convention-center/boat-dock-registration. Fee is $50 per day with a maximum of a two day stay. This gives you immediate access to some pretty interesting day and evening activities within easy walking distance. There is a park right next to the convention center for walking Fido. Greer's Downtown Market is a mile up Government St. There are no services on the dock but there are positive reports about Convention Center Security staff doing a good job watching the boats.

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Anchorage Review for Dry Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Feb 6, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter Dry Creek Bay slightly favoring the south shore for the deepest water. At entrance the depth is 28 feet (414 pool). As the anchorage turns south stay 100 feet off the west bank for 17 feet depth. At the anchorage icon there is 22 feet of water. For better protection continue to hug the west bank for another 0.3 miles and anchor with very good all-around protection from wind and wakes in 15 feet of water with enough room for a dozen boats. No current. Shore access on east shore. We visited this anchorage on a lovely fall Saturday and it was clear that this was a favorite day anchorage for the locals. There were 20 other boats spread around the bay and more coming when we left. Surprisingly, there was no loud music in the bay when we were there. Cell phone reception was 1 bar Verizon 2 bar ATT and T-Mobile.

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Anchorage Review for Big Briar Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Nov 4, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Turn off LDB at mile marker 12.2 into the Tensaw Cutoff with 20+ feet of water at entrance and no less than 13 feet mlw in the center of the channel for the one mile trip back to the Big Briar Creek turn off. Big Briar Creek carries a minimum 9 foot depth back well beyond where we anchored. Protection is good all-around and the only boat traffic was a couple of fishing boats. Holding is good in mud. The creek is wide enough to swing but the current kept us in the middle of the river on one anchor. Shore access by dinghy is further to the east on the Tensaw cutoff where there is a sand beach across from where you enter the Tensaw River. Cell phone reception was 1 bar ATT and Verizon and 2 bars 5G for T-Mobile with adequate internet connectivity.

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Bridge comment on CSX Transportation Railroad Bridge

Comment by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 30, 2021
LOA: 48'

According to the bridge operator the bridge lift to full up is 55 feet. Add the closed bridge height from the bridge clearance board to this to get the lifted bridge clearance. The clearance number at nominal flow is between 10 and 11 feet giving the lifted bridge a clearance of 65-66 feet.

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Anchorage Review for Tensaw River

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Enter the river going downstream in 25 feet of water normal pool at the entrance. If coming up from Mobile respect the very long bar that extends out from the southern point between the two rivers. Continue back center channel to the bend in no less than 20 feet of water and find 10 – 15 feet at the back of the bend with good swing room for boats on both shores. We had 5 40'+ boats in the anchorage and had room for plenty more. There is a 1 mph current running from the Tombigbee down the Tensaw the keep all boats properly oriented even with moderate winds. Holding was good as was wake and wind protection. The tree lined shores kept the wind down even when it was blowing 20+ from the west. Shore access is minimal but at low tide (there is a tide), there is a narrow section of beach that appears for the adventurous. Cell signal is adequate with 2 bars for the big three. This is a great stop for moving through Mobile Bay.

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Anchorage Review for Three Rivers Lake

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

On inspection we decided not to go into the lake. The entrance is narrow and deep so entry is no problem but, once in the lake there is a 5' bar at normal pool you need to cross. Given that the lake is subject to tides of about a foot, it is possible to enter and find yourself waiting the following day to get out. For shallow draft boats, the anchorage looks like it might be pretty good. We decided not to try anchoring in the entry as we were experiencing an engine problem and did not want to get stuck. Under different circumstances we would move 300-400 feet it to opening and anchor in the middle of the channel on the rise to the entrance bar. We did try to anchor at the mouth of the creek but found the depths to be too great (25'+) to make this an attractive alternative. After two tries in two different spots and not finding a satisfactory place to drop the anchor, we decided to move on to an alternate anchorage.

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Anchorage Review for Hal's Slough

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Located on LDB at mm 56.9 Hal's Slough is the entrance to Hal's Lake. The slough is just off the channel and tows come by close but, because of the configuration of the entrance, a single boat anchored here is completely out of their way. We came to use this anchorage out of necessity and found that it was actually better than what we had thought it would be.

Enter the anchorage going up the center of the channel until your reach a depth of 14-15 feet normal pool. Drop your anchor, back up, set it well, and then take up chain to shorten your scope. Our anchor dug into the mud and did not budge. There is no current to speak of and the boat would have sat in the middle of the slough through the night if it were not for the water displacements of the passing tows. We found that we moved from side to side as they passed and even bumped into downed trees on the shore once or twice but always came back to the middle of the channel. We set a 75' radius alarm and it did not trip. The anchorage is a good pocket and is protected from wind quite well. There is some small boat traffic that comes by on the way to and from fishing. There is no shore access. We did not record cell strengths but we did have usable cell service on all three networks and even had internet connectivity a well.

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Marina Review for Bobby's Fish Camp

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

Stopping at Bobby's is a piece of history. The fish camp goes back to 1956, long before most of us were born. The place seems to have stopped in the 1970's and most of the maintenance may have stopped at the same time. It's a shame that the restaurant is closed. We would love to have experienced it. We, like everyone else, were left with older docks that were not really stable, electric hookups that were questionable, and an old sign that says to call a number that you can't reach because the cell service is not sufficient for voice calls. We managed to dock ourselves, find out who to pay, (same price as Kingfisher Bay and no services) and how to manage the evening and departure in the morning from a dock that is just off the channel. We stopped because we needed to see what Bobby's was and is. We are glad we did. It is a safe and secure spot two miles for the Coffeeville Lock for an early morning departure. Next time we come through there are a couple of anchorages just upstream that look good.

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Anchorage Review for Turkey Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We did not fully explore Turkey Creek. According to the charts, you should be able to go up this narrow creek one half mile in ten feet of water to an opening at the beginning of a lake that will allow you to turn around to come out again. We did not take the dinghy down to verify that this was possible before committing our 48' boat to the task. We can say that there is sufficient depth and bottom character to use this creek as a pocket anchorage for one larger boat. Approach RDB upstream slowly and drop anchor in 25 feet of water off the northern point of the creek. Back down and allow the current to keep you properly oriented. There is not close by shore access. Cell service has 1 bar for ATT and T-Mobile, and 3 bars for Verizon.

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Anchorage Review for Okatuppa Creek

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This anchorage looks good. We did not go into the creek because there was already a 45' boat tied up to the southern shore about 200 yards in. We know that two other large boats joined them later in the evening. Reports from the three were positive. Depths reported to be 8 feet minimum normal pool and good depth up against the banks. By visual inspection this looks like a good alternative to Bobby's. No shore access. Cell strength 2 bars Verizon, one bar for ATT and T-Mobile.

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Anchorage Review for Cowans Gin Bar

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This anchorage looks very nice. On the inside edge of a turn, tows will be on the opposite bank, aiming for a point that is upriver from this anchorage. Good sandy beach with good depths, especially at the downstream end of the bank. Okay wind and wave protection from most angles except from the SSW where fetch may be a problem with winds higher than 15 mph. At the downstream end of the bank there is 15 foot depth 75 feet from shore. Take Fido ashore and run him up and down the bank. There is room for two to three boats in a line here. There is no cell reception at all here.

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Anchorage Review for Bashi Creek (Alternate)

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Bashi Creek is subject to so much conversation either for or against anchoring there. Across from Bashi has no such problems. It is a simple, open anchorage that is protected from tow traffic by being on the inside edge of a staple shaped turn, leaving tows off the bank in the middle of the straightaway between the two turns.

Turn in going upstream towards RDB just opposite the entrance to Bashi Creek. Move towards shore until you reach 10 foot depths 50 – 100 feet off the bank and deploy your anchor. There is sufficient current to keep you properly oriented with the river flow. You might consider a stern anchor taken into shore to keep the stern tucked in. Good holding in sandy mud. Wake protection is tolerable and wind/wave protection is good with the exception of the NE/SW axis. There is enough room for 3 – 4 good size boats in a line off the shore. Shore access is either to the RDB or over to the boat launch in Bashi Creek which gives you access to the Bashi Creek recreation area. Cell service is minimal: Verizon 0 bars, ATT and T-Mobile 2bars.

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Anchorage Review for SR 10 Bridge - South

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 25, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Move off the channel towards LDB downstream of the bridge and move to the shore side of the bridge support for 10 to 12 feet of depth and a minimum amount of current to help you stay oriented with the river flow. There have been reports of anchors tangling with stuff on the bottom so it is advised to rig a trip line on your anchor if you consider anchoring here. You are definitely out of the channel if you anchor here because tows have to go through the center arch of the bridge. No shore access. Cell signals: Verizon 1 bar, ATT 3 bars, T-Mobile 2 bars 5G.

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Anchorage Review for Barons Landing

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 25, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We left Demopolis and went through the lock as a part of a group of twelve going down river into a 90 mile stretch with very few anchoring choices and a lot of competition. We, being slow, devised a strategy that allowed us to bring up the rear and start looking at anchoring alternatives 30 miles below the Kingfisher Bay Marina with the idea that that would be enough of a run to make Bobby's Fish Camp easily reachable the following day while not finding ourselves later in the day in the middle of a group of already occupied anchorages as light was fading.

We looked at four early candidates for anchoring and dismissed them all for one reason or another. We just did not like the idea of anchoring directly in front of a tow understanding that they were going to turn off 400 yards in front of us to make the turn. Other alternatives were dismissed because it was probable that the flotsam at the edge of the water extended out into the area that we would have to drop our anchor.

We then came to Barron's Landing which is listed as an emergency anchorage on Waterway Guide. Right across from a small boat ramp, Barron's sits n LDB at mile marker 168.2 in a small pocket of deep water where old Lock #2 was situated. Moving into pocket takes you off the channel by 150 yards and in line with the LDB. As you move upriver in the pocket the water shoals to 20 feet and we dropped anchor about 20 yards offshore. We let the boat settle down with the engines running and found that we had sufficient current to keep the boat properly oriented and off the bank with the light winds that we had.

We consulted two tows who both said that we were in a good place and were not a bother to their navigation. The fully loaded 8 barge tow did mess with the current flow going by and it took the boat a minute or two after the tow passed to calm down and regain its default position. The tow's passing momentarily increased current flow and then sucked our boat upstream about 20 feet before releasing its grip.

Other than the fact that we felt somewhat precarious in our position, we spend a comfortable evening s, a restful night, and a morning that saw us still in the same place. There is limited boat traffic in the area and limited cell phone service. ATT had one bar an Verizon and T-Mobile had two bars and internet connectivity as well. In all this was a better experience than we thought it would be.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Kingfisher Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 24, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Kingfisher Bay Marina is in the middle of the metropolis of Demopolis Alabama. That, in itself, should make you wonder. The Good News is that the marina is a wonderful stop on the Black Warrior River and a welcomed relief to the Tenn-Tom Marina Challenged waterway.

The approach to the marina is LDB with a well-marked channel into the basin with a minimum of 6.5 feet of water opening up to 7+ in the basin. Gas dock is a long side tie with pump out and a pay station for fuel, pump out ($20 if you don't buy fuel – free if you do), and pay station for your stay. Slips are on two fingers in front of the fuel dock and negotiating the fairways and slips is easy as there is good protection from wind, no current and wide fairways. The docks and infrastructure is in good order and we found easy access to Wi Fi and acceptable speeds. The Dock office/store was adequate and the bathrooms/showers were clean and well taken care of. Laundry is available on site ($2 for wash and dry, quarters available in the store) and you are issued a tag to let security (on at night) know that you are not a freeloader.

The staff were wonderful. We were helped at the gas dock, helped at the slip and helped negotiating a trip into town for supplies at the Wal-Mart by the dock master, Anne-Marie. There were a lot of people moving south and Ann-Marie sponsored a meeting to coordinate moving towards the Demopolis lock in the morning. In all 12 boats left as sunrise.

Town is "adorable" but there is a Super Wal-Mart, a Dollar General, and a state liquor store as well as several local restaurants including "Smokin' Joe's" bar-b-que take out that serves local delicacies. No more needs to be said. There are several local attractions that, with time, might be interesting.

All in all, this is a stop that is worth considering beyond its strategic location right above the Demopolis Lock.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for McAcan Bend

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 23, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This anchorage is primarily for emergency use. It is in the river and near the marked channel. Only a combination of being right up against shore on the inside edge of a curve makes this even something to consider. At daymark 243.3 turn into the current and head upriver slowly moving over towards RDB until you are in 7 to 9 feet of water and out of the majority of the current. Make sure that you have room to drop back as you set your anchor. Consider throwing out a stern anchor towards shore to keep your stern from being pulled out towards the channel by a passing tow. There are no amenities here but you do have minimal ATT and Verizon cell coverage so that you can communicate with the outside world. Stay well illuminated and keep your AIS transponder on if so equipped. Inform passing tows of your situation and the word will be spread of your presence.

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Anchorage Review for Rattlesnake Bend - south

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

The first half mile of South Rattlesnake Bend is occupied by barges and towboats. We therefore can be sure that there is a minimum of 10-12 feet of depth and you will not be disappointed.

More than 30 feet on entry, no less than 20 feet all the way back 1.1 miles, around the corner. We anchored in 18 feet of water with good holding and plenty of swing room. There is good protection from waves and wake in all directions. There is boat traffic so make sure your anchor light is on and working. There is room for any number of boats with swing room for everyone. There is no shore access. Cell service is adequate but not great: 1 bar Verizon and T-Mobile, 2 bars ATT.

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Anchorage Review for Rattlesnake Bend - north

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Entered mid channel carefully looking at the charts and had 5.5 feet normal pool at the bar and 20 feet at the anchorage icon. Protection from Cell waves and wind is excellent. There is a marina in the back of the bend so there will be some small boat traffic. Holding should be good and there is plenty of swing room. Shore access would be back at the boat launch several miles in from the river. Cell service was 2 bars for the big three. If you draw under 4 feet, this is a good anchorage. For those of us with depth, we would suggest South Rattlesnake Bend for a worry free entrance and exit.

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Anchorage Review for Upper Windham Landing

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'